Energy-efficient tips for saving money on your summer electric bill

This is the hottest summer North Carolina has seen in over a decade. The last time we saw temperatures in the 100's for several days in a row was in July 2012.

This scorching heat will cause energy bills to increase, but there are some things to keep in mind to help keep costs as low as possible. 

WRAL's 5 on Your Side and Consumer reports have some simple advice to cut utility costs without sacraficing comfort. 

With record temperatures and humidity, nothing beats the relief of cranking the air conditioning. Using a smart thermostat can actually help save money. 

"A programmable or smart thermostat can actually lower cooling and heating bills by as much as 10% a year," said Don Wroclawski with Consumer Reports. "Most smart thermostats use WIFI and allow you to control your central air and heat with your smartphone. When you aren't home, you can set your thermostat a few degrees higher and adjust before your go back home.

Consumer Reports recommends a Honeywell Home T9 Thermostat, which includes a sensor to measure temperature and humidity. 

Duke Energy offers rebates and monthly savings when using smart thermostats through their Power Manager program. 

1. Plug cracks around windows and doors.
2. Repair any leaky AC ductwork to make sure your cool air isn’t leaking out.
3. Summer fan direction: Hot air is here. Make sure your ceiling fan is spinning the right way for cooling
4. Try not to use your oven! Along with using energy, it also heats up the kitchen. If you really need to bake, try to use a CR top-rated toaster oven or air fryer. They’re an affordable, money-saving option and heat up more quickly.
5. Even better, get outside and grill!

“Ceiling fans not only cost very little to run, but when used with your air conditioning, you can actually raise your thermostat by about four degrees and feel just as cool," Wroclawski said.