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Your energy bill is easily influenced by weather.
That’s why you are most likely to experience your highest utility bills of the year during the coldest months of winter and the hottest months of summer. Heating and cooling systems run longer at hotter and colder times of the year. Even if your thermostat is set at a fixed temperature, such as 68 degrees in the winter or 78 degrees in the summer, your HVAC system will run longer and harder on very hot or cold days to reach those fixed settings.
 Temperature
An easy way to understand the impact of temperature is to look at the number of days in your billing cycle that were over 90 degrees in the summer or under 40 degrees in the winter. The more days that we experience these temperature extremes, the more your heating or cooling equipment will run. And, as we said, the longer your HVAC system runs, the higher your
bill will be.
Degree-days
A degree-day is the difference between the average daily temperature and 65 degrees (that nice temperature when no heating or cooling is necessary). The resulting number is called a degree-day. The greater the difference, either above or below 65, the greater the heating or cooling requirements and the longer the heating and cooling equipment will run to bring temperatures up to our thermostat settings.
Examples
If the average daily temperature is 65 degrees, it doesn’t fall into the extremely hot (over 90 degrees) or extremely cold
(under 40 degrees)
categories. Since it is exactly 65 degrees, there is no degree difference to make a degree-day. So, if you set your thermostat at 68 degrees to warm up the house, your HVAC system only has to raise the temperature indoors by 3 degrees. That means your system won’t run very long.
On the other hand, if the average daily temperature is 45 degrees, while not considered extremely cold, that’s 20 degree-days. With your thermostat set at the same 68 degree setting, your HVAC system now has to raise the temperature an average of 23 degrees to warm your house. Obviously, that means your system will run longer and use more energy.
What You Can Do
No one can control the weather, but you can control how much energy you use…
Especially when you understand how weather affects your energy use. In the heat of summer, close curtains during the day, use fans when you’re in the room and check your home for leaks so your cool air stays indoors. In the chill of winter, use rolled up towels to block drafts from doors or windows, wear warm clothes indoors, turn down your heater and use a space heater when you’re in the room.
- Always use caution with space heaters
- Follow manufacturer’s instructions
- Keep away from flammable items
- Never leave unattended or on overnight
But when it’s time for bed and you turn off the space heater, leave the thermostat set lower. Add extra blankets instead to stay warm and consider wearing a cap to bed. About 30 percent of the body’s heat is lost through the head.
Learning how weather affects your bill and using energy efficiently is one of the smartest things you can do to keep your utility costs manageable. For more information on understanding weather and your bill, check these related topics:
For energy-saving tips, click here to see more than 50 fact sheets on energy- and water-efficiency.
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