Calculation of variable-base degree-days and degree-nights from monthly average temperatures

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · ASHRAE Trans.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5394952

Sonderegger, R; Cleary, P; Dickinson, B

The Computerized Instrumented Residential Audit (CIRA), a micro-computer building energy analysis program developed at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, uses a monthly variable-base degree-day method to calculate heating and cooling loads. The method's unique feature is its ability to model thermostat setbacks and storage of solar gain. The program accomplishes this by dividing each day into two periods, ''average day'' (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and ''average night'' (8 p.m. to 8 a.m.), with different base temperatures. For each mode (heating or cooling) and for each period (day or night), the program reconstructs degree-days as a function of average monthly day or night temperature using three empirical coefficients specific to the location. A comparison is made between degree-days computed from hourly weather tapes and those predicted using this method. The root mean square error between predicted and actual degree days is typically between 3 and 12 degree-days per month. Tables of the coefficients are given for over 150 locations in the United States, computed from hourly dry-bulb temperatures on TRY and TMY tapes. Seasonal predictions of heating and cooling energy budgets using this method show good correspondence to the DOE-2 hourly simulation method.

• Research Organization: Morgan Systems Corp., Berkeley, CA
• OSTI ID: 5394952
• Report Number(s): CONF-850606-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: ASHRAE Trans.; (United States) Journal Volume: 91:2B
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
BUILDINGS
C CODES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
COOLING LOAD
D CODES
DAILY VARIATIONS
DEGREE DAYS
ENERGY
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
ERRORS
HEAT STORAGE
HEATING LOAD
LAWRENCE BERKELEY LABORATORY
MONTHLY VARIATIONS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SIMULATION
SOLAR ENERGY
STORAGE
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
THERMOSTATS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VARIATIONS