3054 -- Generalized Weather Data for Canadian Cities

In order to simplify energy analysis of single-family dwelllngs, and to assess the effectiveness of retrofits, simplified average weather data is required. This paper analyzes weather data for seven Canadian cities and proposes a method of generalizing this data for use in variable base-degree day calculations.

Thirty-two years of hourly weather data for seven Canadian cities have been analyzed, and a normalized temperature distribution over a 12-month period has been developed. In order to use this normalized distribution, three temperatures for a specified location are required: T_max, the highest monthly average temperature; T_min, the lowest monthly average temperature; and T_avrg, the yearly average temperature.

Heating degree-days to any base temperature may be calculated or determined graphically based on the above three temperatures. Similarly, cooling degree-days may also be determined. Based on the degree-days, an approximate length of the heating or cooling season may be determined for a building with a known balance point temperature.

Units: Dual