Degree Days for 2007 - 2008

Just what are degree days? Degree days are used to calculate how much energy is required to keep your home at 65 degrees (F). Often presented as either Heating Degree Days (HDD) or Cooling Degree Days (CDD), they are calculated by taking the difference between 65 degrees (F) and the average outside temperature.

How about some examples? If the average temperature (high + low divided by two) is 65 degrees, then there are 0 (zero) HDD and CDD. If the average temperature is 75, there were 10 cooling degree days (because you would have to cool your house to get it back to 65). If the average temperature for the day is 20, then there were 45 heating degree days (because you would have to heat your house to bring it up to 65).

Where did the 65 degrees come from? It is an industry standard that is considered a comfortable indoor temperature. Comfortable? You'd be shivering in the Winter and Summer at 65 but these people are the experts so we just have to go with it,

Want to see the degree day data for our area? Click on the link below. The chart goes all the way back to September of 1998.

Sussex County Degree Day Data

Our temperature data comes from a variety of metrological sources. If you want more weather information, check out some of the other links on our Weather Center page.