Working with PA Home Energy to deliver whole-house energy savings to improve comfort and help protect the environment.
Here is a simple calculation to rank your home’s energy efficiency. If your home scores an 8 or higher on the Home Heating Index, we recommend that you schedule a Home Performance Test. All you need is a calculator and your monthly gas statement – preferably one from November through February. Using a scale from 0 to 20, (with 0 being optimal and 20 being very poor) you can estimate your home energy capabilities.
- First, find your total annual MCF usage. It should appear near your monthly gas usage chart. Multiply your annual MCF usage by one million. This number indicates your home’s annual BTU usage.
- Next, divide this number by your home’s square footage. This new number indicates your home’s annual BTUs used per square foot.
- Finally, divide your home’s annual BTUs used per square foot by Pittsburgh’s Heating Degree Day, 5910. Heating Degree Day is each degree that the average daily temperature is below the base temperature (65 F) constitutes one heating degree-day. This number indicates your home's BTU/sq. ft/HDD.
Home Heating Index
Here is a sample calculation for a 1,500 square-foot home.
Total annual use: 86.5 MCF x 1,000,000 = 86,500,000 annual BTU usage
86,500,000 / 1500 sq ft = 57,666 BTU/Sq ft.
57,666 / 5910 HDD = 9.7 BTU/sq. ft/ HDD
Conclusion:
This home has average air leaks - resulting in higher heating bills. There are several opportunities for cost-effective improvements, including sealing air leaks throughout the basement and attic or updating the home's heating source.