CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for North America for the ninth consecutive year.

"Being listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for nine straight years clearly reflects our commitment to conducting business in a sustainable way even when confronted with complex challenges," said Shawn Heath, Duke Energy's chief sustainability officer. "Our 28,000 worldwide employees work to improve our business every day."

Since 1999, the DJSI has evaluated the sustainability of leading companies worldwide.

In selecting the top performers in each business sector, the DJSI reviews companies on several general and industry-specific topics related to economic, environmental and social dimensions.

Among them: Corporate governance, environmental policy, climate strategy, human capital development and labor practices.

The index is compiled annually by S&P Dow Jones and Zurich-based RobecoSAM (Sustainable Asset Management). More information is available at http://www.sustainability-index.com/.

Duke Energy publishes an annual Sustainability Report that summarizes its efforts to advance energy efficiency, develop renewable energy, reduce emissions, and more.

The 2013 report is available online at: http://sustainabilityreport.duke-energy.com.

Some of the highlights covered in the report:

• As part of Duke Energy's $9 billion generation fleet modernization program, the company retired about 3,830 megawatts of older coal-fired units. That number will grow to nearly 6,300 megawatts of coal capacity retired over the next few years – about a quarter of the company's earlier coal fleet.
• The company has a new sustainability goal focused on ash management, which includes the development of a long-term strategy to manage the closure of coal ash basins across the Duke Energy system.
• Duke Energy's fleet modernization and environmental controls investments have helped reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 84 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 63 percent since 2005.
• The company is on track to meeting its goal of owning or purchasing 6,000 megawatts of wind, solar and biomass energy by 2020.
• Since 2009, Duke Energy companies have distributed nearly 46 million energy-efficient light bulbs to customers, helping them save enough energy to power nearly 144,000 homes and offset the carbon output of 266,000 passenger cars.
• In 2013, Duke Energy recycled 25,719 inefficient refrigerators and freezers through its appliance recycling programs. Almost 26 million kWh of energy were saved last year - enough to power nearly 2,100 homes.

You can follow Duke Energy on social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DukeEnergy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DukeEnergy

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at http://www.duke-energy.com/.

Contact: Randy Wheeless
Office: 704.382.8379 | 24-Hour: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_RandyW

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SOURCE Duke Energy