Understanding degree days can help explain changes in your bill and show how weather affects heating and cooling costs. This can help with planning thermostat settings and seasonal energy use. View our Energy Tips and Energy Resources for ways to save energy during degree days.
Degree Days
Degree day data can be found on government websites, and through the National Weather Service, as well as the PJECC website.
Degree days are calculated using the average of the day’s high and low temperatures compared to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yes. Degree days depend on local climate and weather conditions. Different areas experience different numbers of degree days even during the same season.
No. Degree days vary from year to year depending on weather patterns. One summer or winter may be much hotter or colder than another.
Yes. Changes in weather and the number of degree days can cause your energy use to increase even when daily routines do not change.
When there are more heating or cooling degree days, heating and cooling systems run longer. This usually leads to higher electricity use and higher bills.
Heating degree days measure how cold the weather is and relate to heating use. Cooling degree days measure how hot the weather is and relate to air conditioning use.
65 degrees is considered the outdoor temperature at which most homes do not need heating or air conditioning.
A degree day is a way to measure how hot or cold the weather is compared to a standard temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit. It helps explain how much heating or cooling may be needed.