What Does It Take to Heat a New Room? 

81 observations, 13 variables

DESCRIPTIVE ABSTRACT:
In a residential home, energy consumption is closely related to the
outdoor temperature and size of the house.   In a home of a given size,
temperature fluctuations and energy consumption vary fairly predictably
over time.  When homeowners add a room, other things being equal,
utility usage should increase.  This dataset permits students to
estimate the energy demand and make forecasts for future months, as
well as explore other relationships.

The dataset contains natural gas and electricity usage data for a
gas-heated single-family residence in the Boston area from September
1990 through May 1997, accompanied by monthly climatological data.  

SOURCES:
Bay State Gas Co., Boston Edison, National Weather Service Taunton (MA)
Regional Office.

VARIABLE DESCRIPTIONS:
	 
     
Monthmmm  Observation month (formatted mmm)

month       Month (1=Jan to 12=Dec)

year        Year (90 to 97)

days_mo     Number of days in the month

Mean_T      Mean monthly temperature in Boston, in degrees Fahrenheit

gas_day     Mean natural gas usage per day for the month, in therms

therms      Total therms used for the month

BillDays    Days in the gas company billing cycle for the month

kwatt_hr    Total kilowatt hours consumed in the month

kwhr_day    Mean kilowatt hours per day for the month

daysbill    Days in the electric company billing cycle for the month

estimate    method of determining kwh for the month 
            (0 = actual month-end meter reading, 1 = estimated reading)
	 
heatdays    Total heating degree days for the month

cooldays    Total cooling degree days for the month

new_room    Indicator variable for the new room
            (0 = pre-addition, 1 = post-addition)
			

***** Missing Data are indicated by a period (.) ***


A therm is a standard measure of the heating capacity of a cubic foot
of natural gas.  Due to changes in air temperature during the year, the
heating capacity varies from month to month.

Degree days are a measure of temperature fluctuations that stimulate
demand for heating or cooling.  Specifically, heating degree days are
sums of the absolute value of temperature deviations below a base
temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit.  For example, if the mean daily
temperature were 60 degrees one day, that would represent five heating
degree days.  Conversely, cooling degree days sum the positive
deviations from the base of 65 degrees.

SPECIAL NOTES:
For billing purposes, the gas utility month starts on the 18th of the
month, while the electric utility month starts on the 12th.   For
example, the January gas bill refers to usage from December 18 through
January 17 (approximately) and the electric bill for the same month
refers to usage from December 12 through January 11 (approximately).
The gas company calculates usage based on a monthly electronic reading
of the gas meter, but the electric company meter reader visits the
house every other month; in the alternate months, the electric company
estimates electricity consumption.  Sundays, holidays, and snowstorms
can interrupt the schedule.  In the summer months, the gas company
issues one bill for July and August, and one for September and
October.

STORY BEHIND THE DATA:
In our home, our furnace and water heater both use natural gas.  We
have a gas stove, but our clothes dryer is all-electric.  In early
1996, we added a bedroom and enlarged the kitchen, and we were
interested in estimating the additional consumption of natural gas
attributable to the new room.   The family remained the same size and
did not change hot-water-use habits.  The new construction improved the
insulation in the affected areas, and several new lighting circuits
were added.  There were no other changes that would influence energy
consumption.

The major questions that prompted collection of the data are these: 

In an average month, do we use additional natural gas as a result of 
adding a room? If so, how much?

In an average month, do we use additional electricity as a result of 
adding a room? If so, how much?