Related Definitions

Cooling Degree-Days (CDD):   A measure of how hot a location was over a period of time, relative to a base temperature. In this report, the base temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and the period of time is 1 year. The number of cooling degree-days for a single day is the difference between that day's average temperature and the base temperature, if the daily average is greater than the base; it is zero if the daily average temperature is less than or equal to the base temperature. Average daily temperature is the mean of the maximum and minimum temperatures for a 24-hour period. Cooling degree-days can also be calculated using a base temperature other than 65 degrees. The computation is performed in an analogous manner.


Seasonal Energy efficiency Ratio (SEER):   Ratio of the cooling output divided by the power consumption. It is Btu of cooling output during its normal annual usage divided by the total electric energy input in watt-hours during the same period. This is a measure of the cooling performance for rating central air conditioners and central heat pumps.


RECS AC Trends Page


File Last Modified: July 24, 2000
Released date: August 2, 2000

Robert Latta
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