The graph above shows the observed daily average temperatures for the 2023-2024 heating season. The grey squares (along with the y axis on the right edge of the plot) show how many hours per day the backup propane furnace ran. The lower graph shows the ratio of daily average surface solar flux to the top of atmosphere solar flux. The surface solar flux on a horizontal plane is measured by the weather station, and the top of atmosphere solar flux is calculated for the date and location. Sunny days have a solar transmission above 0.7, and cloudy days have lower values.

We went back to our usual procedure this heating season by running the furnace when really needed. The season was the third warmest (in heating degree days) that we've had. The daily average house temperature fell below 65^oF on 1 day, which was 64.6^o in early February. The beginning and end of our heating season (when the reflectors were not blocking the basement windows) was September 16 and May 26, respectively.

Click on the graph for a larger version.

The above graph shows the total heating degree days (HDD) accumulated through the season and total BTUs provided by the propane furnace in our house. These HDD are defined relative to the standard 65^oF. The furnace BTUs are calculated using the 70,000 BTU/hour furnace rating and the time the furnace is on as measured by the computer.

This season the furnace was used for about six hours. The ratio of BTUs to heating degree days divided by the floor area of the house (1508 square feet) is plotted in the lower panel. This ratio is called the heating intensity index, and is a measure of how efficient the house is.