--- chapters: [] contact_email: ~ contact_note: ~ contributors: - display_name: 'Data Producer : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Climatic Data Center ' href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/contributor/4521.yaml id: 4521 organization: country_code: US display_name: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Climatic Data Center identifier: noaa-national-climatic-data-center name: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Climatic Data Center organization_type_identifier: federal type: organization url: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov organization_uri: /organization/noaa-national-climatic-data-center person: {} person_id: ~ person_uri: ~ role_type_identifier: data_producer uri: /contributor/4521 - display_name: 'Point of Contact : Derek S. Arndt (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) ' href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/contributor/4525.yaml id: 4525 organization: country_code: US display_name: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration identifier: national-oceanic-atmospheric-administration name: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration organization_type_identifier: federal type: organization url: http://www.noaa.gov/ organization_uri: /organization/national-oceanic-atmospheric-administration person: display_name: Derek S. Arndt first_name: Derek S. id: 2430 last_name: Arndt middle_name: ~ orcid: 0000-0001-7698-6740 type: person url: http://www.climate.gov/tags/deke-arndt person_id: 2430 person_uri: /person/2430 role_type_identifier: point_of_contact uri: /contributor/4525 - display_name: 'Data Producer : U.S. Census Bureau ' href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/contributor/4526.yaml id: 4526 organization: country_code: US display_name: U.S. Census Bureau identifier: us-census-bureau name: U.S. Census Bureau organization_type_identifier: federal type: organization url: https://www.census.gov organization_uri: /organization/us-census-bureau person: {} person_id: ~ person_uri: ~ role_type_identifier: data_producer uri: /contributor/4526 display_name: 'Indicator: Heating and Cooling Degree Days' doi: ~ files: - display_name: heating_and_cooling_degree_days_v2_11_3_14.jpg file: bc/23/96b07238604256c229f4bedd39b1/heating_and_cooling_degree_days_v2_11_3_14.jpg href: http://data.globalchange.gov/assets/bc/23/96b07238604256c229f4bedd39b1/heating_and_cooling_degree_days_v2_11_3_14.jpg identifier: 936fd6cc-fe03-4d05-94b2-52afff37a06b landing_page: ~ location: ~ mime_type: image/jpeg sha1: 41e9e6d5f7546b36f47c4540c5746de7115e61df size: 852006 thumbnail: bc/23/96b07238604256c229f4bedd39b1/.thumb-936fd6cc-fe03-4d05-94b2-52afff37a06b.png thumbnail_href: http://data.globalchange.gov/assets/bc/23/96b07238604256c229f4bedd39b1/.thumb-936fd6cc-fe03-4d05-94b2-52afff37a06b.png type: file uri: /file/936fd6cc-fe03-4d05-94b2-52afff37a06b url: http://data.globalchange.gov/assets/bc/23/96b07238604256c229f4bedd39b1/heating_and_cooling_degree_days_v2_11_3_14.jpg href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/report/indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days.yaml identifier: indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days parents: [] publication_year: 2015 report_figures: - display_name: indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/report/indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days/figure/indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days.yaml uri: /report/indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days/figure/indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days report_findings: [] report_tables: - display_name: indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days-data-pilot href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/report/indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days/table/indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days-data-pilot.yaml uri: /report/indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days/table/indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days-data-pilot report_type_identifier: indicator summary: "Key Points:\r\n\r\n1. Degree days are defined as the number of degrees by which the average daily temperature is higher than 65°F (cooling degree days) or lower than 65°F (heating degree days). The bars on the graph show the percent difference between the number of degree days in each year and the average number of degree days from 1970 to 2010. Degree days reflect changes in climate and are used as a proxy for the energy demand for heating or cooling buildings. \r\n\r\n2. During the past 20 years, the number of heating degree days has decreased and the number of cooling degree days has increased. The increase in cooling days is driven by more frequent days above 65°F and more frequent extreme high temperatures.\r\n\r\n3. This indicator is used in utility planning and can support construction decisions. It provides information on the relationship between climate and energy use that can inform mitigation strategies. \r\n\r\nFull Summary:\r\n\r\nDegree days are defined as the number of degrees by which the average daily temperature is higher than 65°F (cooling degree days) or lower than 65°F (heating degree days). For example, one day with an average temperature of 90°F equals 25 cooling degree days—the same as 25 days with an average temperature of 66°F. This indicator is thus a proxy that captures both extremes in and duration of energy demand (generally, fossil fuel demand for heating and electricity demand for cooling). The bars on the graph show the percent difference between the number of degree days in each year and the average number of degree days from 1970 to 2010. \r\n\r\nOver the past 20 years, there has been a decrease in the number of heating degree days and an increase in the number of cooling degree days relative to the 1970–2010 average. The recent increase in cooling degree days is driven by more frequent days above 65°F and more frequent extreme high temperatures.\r\n\r\nHeating and cooling degree days are calculated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Daily temperature values for each region of the United States are used to calculate deviations from the 65°F baseline. These values are population-weighted using United States Census Bureau data, such that, for example, the same temperature produces more degree days in New York City than in rural Nebraska. \r\n\r\nAs temperatures continue to rise, combined changes in heating and cooling degree days are projected to change patterns of energy use and increase net electricity demand nationwide. This indicator is used in utility planning and can support construction decisions that consider heating and cooling needs. It provides information on the relationship between climate and energy use that can inform mitigation strategies. \r\n" title: 'Indicator: Heating and Cooling Degree Days' uri: /report/indicator-heating-cooling-degree-days url: http://www.globalchange.gov/browse/indicators/indicator-heating-and-cooling-degree-days