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MANHATTAN, Kan. – With many homeowners closely watching their home’s energy use, some may wonder how utility companies monitor it.

“With so many people monitoring their energy use these days, they might be interested in heating degree days,” said Mary Knapp, state climatologist for Kansas. “It is a method used by many energy companies as an indication of fuel needs. One heating degree day is accumulated for each degree the daily average temperature falls below 65 degrees.”

“For example,” said Knapp, who oversees the Kansas Weather Data Library, based in K-State Research and Extension, “a high of 42 degrees with a low of 16 gives a daily average of 29 degrees. With that falling 36 degrees below 65 – you’ve just accumulated a 36 degree day. The base was set at 65, since that is a temperature at which the majority of people are relatively comfortable. And as those heating degree days accumulate, so do the fuel demands.”

Information about Kansas weather is available on the Weather Data Library Web site: www.ksre.ksu.edu/wdl/ . “Weather Wonders” audio reports are available on the K-State Research and Extension News Media Web site at www.ksre.ksu.edu/news/.

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