Heating Degree Days are a way that many analysts measure how cold the average winter temperature is
compared to other years. To calculate the heating degree day number, you subtract the average of a day's temperatures from 65
o
F. For example, if the day's average temperature is 50
o
F, its Heating Degree day number is 15.
Last winter, using Heating Degree Days as reported at the Burlington International Airport, it was 7% colder than the 10-year average. As of April 31st, there have been 7,031 degree days compared to 6,548 last year and a ten-year average of 6,603.
Unless you made improvements to your home's energy efficiency last year, you may have noticed the difference in your heating fuel usage.