Re: AHS: Do You Need Degree Days?

From: American Housing Survey (AHS) ListServ <ahs@huduser.gov>

Some possible alternative sources:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - www.noaa.gov - keeps a lot of statistics on degree days, some of it sorted by city. Some particular NOAA pages you could check out, to see if they meet your needs, are below. There's much more at the NOAA site.

http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/cdus/degree_days/
https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/land-based-station-data/land-based-datasets/climate-normals/1981-2010-normals-data
https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/land-based-station-data/land-based-datasets/climate-normals/1981-2010-normals-data

Another sources is the U.S. Energy Information Administration - www.eia.gov. Below is one particular table of degree day norms over an extended period. There's much more at the EIA site.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/txt/ptb0109.html

Finally, I'm sure a well-crafted Google search would yield more sites.

Hope this is helpful,

Henry Joseph

Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.
Henry Joseph & Associates
Housing and Community Development Consultants
28 Penniman Road
Allston, MA 02134
(617) 782-4520
hjoseph@gis.net

On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 04:41 PM, AHS wrote:

From: American Housing Survey (AHS) ListServ <ahs@huduser.gov>

I want to know the data on degree days. With energy efficiency at the forefront of our efforts, knowing how many heating/cooling days there are on average in your market area is essential information in determining HVAC systems design or replacement. I may need this information in the future. Where else would I get it?

Judi Patrick, Associate Director
CRHDC/CHE
7305 Lowell Blvd, #200
Westminster, CO 80030
(303) 428-1448, ext. 201

Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (CRHDC) provides pathways to housing resources and asset-building opportunities. CRHDC is a HUD Housing Counseling Agency and is a member of the National NeighborWorks(R) Network.

On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 10:46 AM, AHS wrote:

From: American Housing Survey (AHS) ListServ <ahs@huduser.gov>

Could you be more specific with regards to the benefits of the change as to the benefits of no change with an explanation for lay people like me. Provide further details about the Degrees

Thanks
Mary Gilmore

On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 10:26 AM, AHS wrote:

From: American Housing Survey (AHS) ListServ <ahs@huduser.gov>

What is the significance of collecting this "DEGREE" data? What does it demonstrate and who/what does it affect?

Thank you.

Sonia Park
First Community Housing

On Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 2:26 PM, AHS wrote:

From: American Housing Survey (AHS) ListServ <ahs@huduser.gov>

If you drop this variable, How are we supposed to get this information. Will it be available at another government site?

On Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 2:36 PM, AHS wrote:

From: American Housing Survey (AHS) ListServ <ahs@huduser.gov>

The American Housing Survey microdata files include a variable, DEGREE, which indicates the heating or cooling degree days of the housing unit's local area. The codebook defines the variable this way:

DEGREE =
Average heating/cooling degree days
1 Coldest: 7,001+ heating degree days and < 2,000 cooling degree days
2 Cold: 5,500-7,000 heating degree days and < 2,000 cooling degree days
3 Cool: 4,000-5,499 heating degree days and < 2,000 cooling degree days
4 Mild: < 4,000 heating degree days and < 2,000 cooling degree days
5 Mixed: 2,000-3,999 heating degree days and 2,000+ cooling degree days
6 Hot: < 2,000 heating degree days and 2,000+ cooling degree days

HUD is considering dropping this variable when we redesign the survey and draw a new sample for the 2015 AHS. The reason is that having DEGREE on the file interferes with our ability to identify certain kinds of geography, such as states and Census divisions. Degree is set at the county level. There are certain Census divisions (and, even more so, states) where the combination of one of the degree codes and the division code identifies a section of the division whose population is less than 100,000. Under the Census Bureau's confidentiality rules, such small areas may not be identifiable on a public use file. Thus, we will not be able identify Census divisions on our public use file. As for states, there will certainly be states that are too small to identify no matter what. However, the presence of the DEGREE variable makes the job even more difficult.

Thus, HUD is proposing that we drop DEGREE from the survey beginning in 2015, so that we can identify Census divisions and at least some of the larger states. If any data users would be seriously inconvenienced by the loss of DEGREE, we would like to hear from you.

Dav Vandenbroucke
Senior Economist
U.S. Dept. HUD
david.a.vandenbroucke@hud.gov
202-402-5890

I disclaim any disclaimers.

--
Laura Montllor, AIA

Executive Director
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