Duke Energy Launches My Home Energy Report

500,000 residential customers in North Carolina will receive

reports comparing their personal energy usage to other customers

CHARLOTTE, NC – Duke Energy is mailing reports to 500,000 residential customers in North Carolina showing them how their personal energy usage compares with customers who live in similar homes in their areas.

Lime Energy Inks its First NC Deal with Progress  READ MORE

Homes built to voluntary ENERGY STAR® specifications made up about 26% of all new homes constructed in the United States during 2011. And, North Carolina is one of 15 states leading the nation. Under the latest update of the specifications that went into effect earlier this year, ENERGY STAR homes consume at least 15% less energy than those built to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).

North Carolina’s economy continues to recover from the recession with our unemployment rate above the national rate. However, the good news is that several sectors, including clean energy, are hiring employees, expanding their businesses, and pumping millions into local economies in every region of our state.  These and other important economic findings are detailed in the newly released 2012 North Carolina Clean Energy Industries Census.  Retaining and creating jobs and fostering new economic development opportunities must continue to be a top priority for all North Carolinians, especially businesses and policymakers – and the clean energy sector holds great promise and opportunities if we maintain a balance of pro-business policies and regulations.

Click here to download the 2012 NC Clean Energy Industries Census.

North Carolina is more energy-efficient than it was in 2009. Homes, schools, college campuses, businesses and government facilities are using less energy, saving on utility bills and generating more power from renewable sources as a result of grants distributed by the N.C. Energy Office and funded through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

Green power is electricity produced from renewable generation sources such as biogas, solar and wind turbines. These renewable energy sources are cleaner than traditional sources of electricity that produce carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas linked to global climate change. Green power purchases support the development of new, renewable energy capacity.

Lowe's was recognized for its voluntary purchase of green power for use at stores and warehouses in North and South Carolina, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas. Lowe's purchases the green power in the form of electricity generated from biogas, solar, and wind resources from six different providers. Lowe's remains the largest purchaser of green power in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) service area as well as North Carolina.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. ­- Carolinas MED-1 – a mobile hospital owned by Carolinas HealthCare System – is again leading innovation in disaster response via a partnership with members of the Charlotte energy hub. Through integration of energy efficient solutions and renewable energy technology MED-1 will become less dependent on fossil fuels.

Forest City, NC — Facebook’s Forest City Data Center celebrated its grand opening in Rutherford County on Thursday, April 19, after completing the site’s first building and beginning to serve user traffic from the facility.

Facebook’s Vice President of Site Operations Tom Furlong and Data Center Manager George Henry joined NC Deputy Commerce Secretary Dale Carroll, members of the legislative delegation, Rutherford County Commission Chair Julius Owens, Forest City Mayor Dennis Tarlton, and more than 300 “friends” for a celebration at the facility.

"Our Forest City data center is among the most advanced and most energy efficient facility of its kind," Furlong said. "We want to thank the thousands of people involved, in North Carolina and beyond, for coming together to build and staff a world-class facility in less than a year and a half. This is an amazing accomplishment, and it wouldn’t have been possible if we hadn’t worked so well together."

“We are proud that Facebook chose to make North Carolina a ‘friend.’ The feeling is certainly mutual,” said Governor Bev Perdue. "The data center has come together with remarkable speed, thanks to the strong relationship between the company and our state and local resources. The investment and jobs at the data center is a boon to that region of the state, and helps confirm North Carolina’s distinction as a global business destination.”

As a part of the celebration of Energy Star's 20th anniversary, three organizations in North Carolina were honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2012 Energy Star award.  This award was given because of their outstanding leadership and commitment to protecting America’s environment through superior energy efficiency.

• Swedish retailer IKEA will install a solar panel array on the roof of its Charlotte store by next summer, The Charlotte Observer reported. The plan is part of IKEA's program to add solar panels to nine stores and one distribution center in the southern U.S. The Charlotte store, which opened in 2009, will support 4,214 solar panels that will generate an estimated 1,330,000 kilowatt hours a year, or the energy required to power about 114 average homes.
• Progress Energy and Duke Energy say a Chevy Volt or home charger were not to blame for an Iredell County house fire. Garland Cloer, Iredell County's chief deputy fire marshal, said it appears the fire did not start in the electric car. He wouldn't say more about the fire's origin, because investigators for several agencies and manufacturers are still examining the debris.
• Wilmington was one of two cities to receive the Susan M. Burgess Sustainability Award by the N.C. League of Municipalities. The city was recognized for numerous sustainability initiatives including fuel efficiency and energy efficiency projects.