Air conditioning

Many people in public housing are especially vulnerable to extreme heat, and there's no federal requirement for air conditioning. That leaves some tenants struggling to pay for it on their own.

Last fall, the North Carolina General Assembly approved $30 million to address a lack of air conditioning in the state’s prison system. But with summer approaching, none of the actual construction has begun.

In areas where the COVID-19 pandemic is under control, populations could use air duct testing as a surveillance measure, and if the virus is found, use clinical tests to locate it more precisely.

Duke Energy Carolinas customers used a summertime record amount of energy last week. The only time the company saw a higher use was during the polar…