Meteorology Charles A. Giannetta
Meteorologist - Professor
"Degree Days ...Heating"
A heating degree day is the departure of one degree per day
in the mean daily temperature from an adopted standard
reference temperature, usually 65 Degs.
The number of degree days for an individual day is the actural
departure of the mean temperature for a standard and the number
of degree days in a month, year or interval is the sum of all
the daily values.
When the mean (Average) temperature on a given day is
65 Degs. F, or higher that day is not consiered in making
monthly totals.
"Example"
The mean temperature of 75, 65, 60, 52, 48, 57, the daily
degree days for summation per day would be
0, 0, 5, 13, 17, 8 degrees.
65 Degs. F. was chosen the standard because the minimum
temperature of bodily comfort in the house is reached when
the mean daily temperature falls below that value.
A knowledge of the degree days to be expected for a given
month in a given locality is usefull for residential and
industrial heating purposes. The more heating degree days
there are per day, month, year or season, the more energy it
takes to keep your home warm.
"Fuel Companies"
Fuel companies also make deliveries according to how many
degree days there are. Other utility companies use heating
degree days in estimating how much energy will be consumed
in the future.
The following is a list by month of the normal heating
degree days which can be expected for Bath, Pa. and East
Central Pa. USA.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
1101 938 788 435 178 24
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
3 7 86 367 634 928
Yearly total = 5489.
"Copyright" 1998-2011 Charles A. Giannetta
"Weather By Giannetta"
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