Duke Energy explains why Bills are Higher during the Summer

As tempretures rise during the summer, so do energy bills. Duke Energy is explaining to customers and residents why when temperatures rise, so do energy bills. It’s due to what weather experts call “degree days,” or those days when there’s a bigger difference between the temperature outside and your temperature inside. The bigger the difference, the more your cooling system has to work. Of course, you can’t change the weather. But you can make some easy changes around the house that will save you energy and money. Duke Energy offers these suggestions: Adjust your thermostat to the highest comfortable setting. The smaller the difference between your indoor temperature and the outside temperature, the less your AC will have to run. Program your thermostat. Don’t pay to cool an empty house. Set your thermostat to raise the temperature while you’re gone and cool things off right before you get home. Take care of your AC system. Change your air filters and get regular tuneups. A cleaner, more efficient system is more reliable and costs less to run. Keep cool air in and the heat out. Check for air leaks and drafts. Close your blinds and curtains to block the midday sun. And make sure your ducts are sealed and your attic is properly insulated. Also, postpone heat-generating tasks, like using your clothes dryer, until after the sun goes down. Use fans. You’ll feel cooler, without having to adjust the thermostat. Just remember to turn them off when you leave the room. If you have a whole-house fan, use it to pull cool air into your home at night. For more energy saving tips, visit www.duke-energy.com/HotSummer.