Climate Matters: Cooling demand growing as summer stretches longer

The calendar says fall, but the thermostat says otherwise. Temperatures in early October have been near 90 degrees weeks after the end of summer, driving an increase in demand for cooling.

This growing need for cooling has been seen for decades. In Columbia, the number of cooling degree days has increased by almost 20% in the last half-century, according to Climate Central.

As the need for AC is growing, cooling your home is already one of the biggest expenses on your bill. "The vast majority of your bill in the summer and the winter is all based on trying to change that temperature inside your home," says Zach Smith, the communications specialist for the Boone Electric Cooperative.

Zach says meeting the ever-growing demand for cooling is one of their top priorities. "I mean, that's why we're here. That's what our members expect from us," Zach says, "that light switch, that air conditioner, that heating unit needs to come on when you need it to come on."

While they keep the lights on, Zach has some suggestions to help save money year-round. He says now, when it's comparatively mild, is the time to start and finish any energy efficiency projects you have coming up.

While you may not think of your HVAC unit until it's really hot or really cold, Zach says, by then it's too late to do much good to bring you more comfort or help reduce your bill.