How many "Heating Degree Days" are there where you live?

6860, some interesting comments and links. Thank you everyone

I had no idea there were sites like those posted & how many weather stations there are. Thanks for the info..

So I live in the 6500 days area but nobody told me they were all coming in one night a few days ago.

Around 7000, no wonder I use so much coal or propane.

Greg L

Jamestown, NY

year 2009- 7257 DD
year 2010 - 7002 DD
year 2011 - 7100 DD

Any questions on why I don't burn oil?

So wait a minute guys - Cape Cod 5614, I froze my bippy off there one winter. Does this include wind and hence wind chill? Cape Cod has a TON more wind than we do as does N NYS and coastal Maine. Does human wind chill factor = building wind chill.

With c rapp y windows, wind really kills me.

coalnewbie wrote: Does human wind chill factor = building wind chill.

You have pointed out something I have been trying to slam into some peoples' heads for the last three years. Wind exposure makes a big difference in heat load, and the more air leaks in the structure...the more of a difference it makes. I keep detailed records of coal burned vs. outside temperature, and for three years my "record" day for coal burned has not been the day with the lowest temperature...it was a day with -15 or -20 windchill. Hence my efforts to seal up the house...

Human wind chill does not equal building wind chill. Humans are moist and have evaporation which cools the body. That is why wind chill is lower than actual temperature.

Yes, infiltration is directly affected by wind velocity and is the greatest component of the heating load.

Keep in mind that heating degree days has nothing to do with design temperatures or specific heat loss. A "degree day" is only 24 hours at 1 deg F. below 65. It can be used to quantify the total energy use based on heat loss.

Here is a sample on how to calculate oil consumption based on degree days and heat loss.

http://www.ehow.com/how_7700159_use-day ... ption.html

The same could be done using coal, substituting coal values for oil values.

Description: Fahrenheit-based heating degree days for a base temperature of 65F
Source: http://www.degreedays.net (using temperature data from http://www.wunderground.com)
Accuracy: Estimates were made to account for missing data: the "% Estimated" column shows how much each figure was affected (0% is best, 100% is worst)
Station: Muir Army Air Field / Indiantown, PA, US (76.57W,40.43N)
Station ID: KMUI

Month starting HDD % Estimated

1/1/2011 1208 17
2/1/2011 929 0
3/1/2011 796 3
4/1/2011 403 0.5
5/1/2011 145 0
6/1/2011 34 2
7/1/2011 11 0
8/1/2011 28 1
9/1/2011 76 0
10/1/2011 405 1
11/1/2011 589 0
12/1/2011 844 0

6805 where I am now, which isn't bad compared to some of you-all, but not great compared to where I'm from, at 5014.

- Eric

If you are not warm enough, have more coal on hand, and here is a simple solution and requires no analysis: Crank it up, or get a bigger rig to crank up. The two holer will be damned chilly if the wind is blowing through it, too
ALWAYS have an extra supply on hand or real handy. If you live by the degree days and you are an oil dealer, you will be crying or smiling from day to day. IF you are a propane dealer, the KY stays warmer with fewer degree days, more, it's a thermal shock....... This AIN"T rocket science....even though a few of you think so.

Understand what 'Steam-up' mentions, that all things are not equal in making the formula appear as a linear projection. If it's colder than normal, you will use more btu's from whatever source. Wind chill may not be technically a true form of heat loss, but anyone who has been on a hilltop or a frozen lake with 30 mph winds will surely disagree. ) doesn't hurt much, but 10 degrees and 40MPH winds KILLS!!!! Anyone Iceboat? Try that one for a chilly, bumpy, ride!