Was it the cold snap or the high bills that made people call for an energy audit?

Earlier this month we got a ton of calls here at Home Performance NC. Mark, our lead auditor, thought it was probably due to the weather taking a turn, but based on the topic of conversation that morning ’round the old water cooler, I think it was the advent of everyone’s electric bills arriving. Kind of a chicken-or-the-egg scenario, but interesting to think about just the same.

I think I’m right. Here’s why: for about 3 days everyone I ran into went on and on about how high their electric bills had been for December.

My prediction: at the beginning of February we’re going to get more calls. Lots more calls. Because although it’s warmed up here in central NC the past couple of days (on Sunday it was almost 70 degrees!) we had a couple weeks there of very cold temperatures. Northeners would laugh at this, but for 2 weeks in a row it was below freezing!

That is mighty chilly for the Piedmont.

On the plus side: below freezing temperatures are supposed to kill ticks.

On the minus side: below freezing temperatures lead to heating units running and running and running. Which means high bills.

How to combat the bills? Get an audit and weatherize the heck out of your house. Then relax and wait ’til spring.