Degree-days, population distribution and heating energy consumption: The Italian case

Abstract

SYNOPSIS Degree-days are widely utilised to evaluate heating energy consumption in buildings. An auxiliary criterion, which can provide useful information about the diffusion of energy demand in a given territory, is the analysis of the population distribution performed on the basis of the local winter climate. This paper studies the possibility of correlating heating energy consumption in buildings and the territorial distribution of degree-days and population. The distribution of the Italian population was analysed in relation with heating degree-days and population-weighted degree-days were calculated. Correlated consumption indexes were then introduced and their nationwide distribution was analysed. These indexes enabled us to locate the distribution of energy demand and pick out the areas where consumption density is highest. The predictive method was successfully validated by comparison with real data on natural gas consumption in Italy for the winter heating of buildings.