- B-roll of energy-saving tips to beat the heat available
here
- Financial assistance and energy-saving tools and tips are
available to help customers
CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 10,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With weather forecasters
predicting high temperatures across the Carolinas this week, Duke
Energy has tips to help you take control of your energy use while
keeping you and your family cool.
Summer tips to keep cool and save
- Set your thermostat to the highest comfortable setting or use a
smart thermostat. You can save as much as 10% a year on
heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back
7-10 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours a day from its normal
setting. Keep in mind: Your system will run longer the hotter
it is outside – even if your thermostat setting never changes. And,
run heat-producing appliances during cooler morning hours for
additional savings.
- One of the easiest things customers can do for cooling
efficiency is to change air filters regularly. A dirty air filter
makes cooling systems work harder, which uses more energy and can
increase costs. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean
one can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5% to
15%.
- Close curtains and blinds during warm, sunny days to help
prevent the sun from heating your home.
- Operate ceiling fans in a counterclockwise direction in the
summer, which pushes cooler air back down into the room. If
you use air conditioning to cool your home, a ceiling fan will
allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4 degrees,
typically with no reduction in comfort.
- Make sure cool air isn't escaping by checking windows, doors
and vents for air leaks. Caulk, seal and use weatherstripping
to block leaks, which can help save 10% to 20% in cooling
costs.
- There are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used for
washing clothes – use less water and use cooler water. Switching
your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut a load's energy
use in half.
Savings programs and incentives
Duke Energy
offers a variety of programs and incentives to help customers
navigate seasonal energy use. Learn more about available options
below, and b-roll is available
here:
- Power Manager®: Get rewarded by helping shift
energy use away from peak periods. By enrolling one or more of your
home's appliances in Power Manager, you'll be supporting clean
energy goals. Plus, receive bill credits for making a difference in
your community. Find out if you qualify. (Please note: The
name of this program may differ depending on where you live.
EnergyWise® Home is available in the Duke Energy Progress
service area and is the equivalent offering to Power
Manager.)
- Flex Savings Option: Customers who enroll in the Flex
Savings Option can pay lower rates (as compared to the standard
residential rate) by shifting their energy use to times of lower
demand. Alternatively, rates will increase when customer demand is
high and more people are using electricity.
- High Energy Usage pilot: Income-qualified
residential customers who use a lot of energy may be eligible for
the High Energy Usage pilot program that offers free energy
improvements that can help lower energy use. Upgrades can include
air sealing, HVAC, refrigerator or water heater replacement, free
lightbulbs and more. Find out if you qualify.
- Improve & Save: Some customers may be able to pay
for energy efficiency upgrades through their Duke Energy bill via
our new Improve & Save program, while others can take advantage
of about $1,500 in home rebates
through the Smart $aver® home improvement rebate
program.
- Home Energy House Call: Consider a free home energy
assessment, which can help lower your energy use. Valued at
$180, this service helps you learn
how your home uses energy and how you can save. An energy
specialist will check your home for air leaks, examine your
insulation levels, check your appliances and more. Sign
up online or call 844.346.4366.
- Weatherization Program: Some customers can take
advantage of our income-qualified Weatherization Program for
single-family and multifamily units to help save money and reduce
expenses through the installation of energy conservation measures
in their home. The program is open to owners and renters with owner
approval, and eligibility is determined by the weatherization
office and an in-home assessment.
Programs and incentives vary depending on which Duke
Energy-served community you live in. See what savings programs you
may be eligible for.
Payment assistance
Other customers may be
eligible for further assistance. Installment Payment
Plans can help customers who need flexibility with
paying their energy bills. Duke Energy also works with local and
state agencies to connect qualified customers with access to
resources, including Share the Light
Fund® and Low Income Home Energy
Assistance programs.
Visit our Special Assistance page for more information.
Take advantage of Usage Alerts to help
save
Better predict what you'll spend on electricity
by reviewing the Usage Alerts that arrive midway through a billing
cycle. By having a smart meter and an email address on file, you'll
automatically be enrolled to receive a Usage Alert notification
that shows how much electricity you're using and how much it may
cost in time to adjust.
Use our website or the Duke Energy app to track your energy
usage down to the hour, day or week. The goal is to see when energy
use is spiking and adjust habits that may be driving it up. Simply
sign in to your online account or create one here.
For more information visit duke-energy.com/SummerSavings or see
this story on illumination.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE:
DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of
America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric
utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities
serve 1.7 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition,
keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the
forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions
from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions
from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in
major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including
expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.
More information is available at duke-energy.com and the
Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy
on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook,
and visit illumination for stories about the people and
innovations powering our energy transition.
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy