As the cold winds of winter roll into HRM, you probably aren’t thinking about Degree Days. You’re likely focused on keeping your family warm, cozy, and safe. But behind the scenes, Degree Days are working hard to ensure you never have to worry about running out of heating oil.
What Are Degree Days, and Why Do They Matter?
Degree Days are a tool used to measure how much heating your home needs as temperatures drop. They’re calculated by comparing the average daily temperature to a baseline temperature—usually 18°C (that’s about 65°F). Why 18°C? That’s the temperature where most homes don’t need heating.
Here’s how it works:
- If the average daily temperature is 10°C, the difference from 18°C is 8 Degree Days.
- The colder it gets, the more Degree Days accumulate, and the more energy your home uses to stay warm.
Over time, these Degree Days add up, creating a reliable picture of how much heating oil your home is likely consuming.
How Are Degree Days Used?
At Scotia Fuels, we track Degree Days for Halifax and surrounding areas to manage our customers’ automatic delivery schedules. Instead of waiting for you to call when your tank is low, we use Degree Day data to estimate your oil usage and schedule a refill before you run out. The Degree Data we use is supplied by Environment Canada.
Here’s why that’s good news for you:
- No More Guesswork: You don’t need to watch your oil gauge or worry about forgetting to schedule a delivery.
- Precision and Peace of Mind: Degree Day tracking allows us to deliver when you need it most, even during our unpredictable winters.
- Avoid the Rush: Winter storms and cold snaps can lead to last-minute delivery requests. With automatic delivery based on Degree Days, you’re always ahead of the weather.
Why Should You Care About Degree Days?
Understanding Degree Days gives you insight into your heating oil usage. It helps explain why your consumption might vary from year to year or why a particularly cold month means more frequent deliveries. For homeowners, this knowledge can:
- Help you plan your heating budget more effectively.
- Show how small changes, like better insulation or thermostat adjustments, can reduce energy use.
At Scotia Fuels, we take the guesswork out of heating your home. By relying on Degree Day data, we can deliver oil when you need it—so you can focus on what really matters: staying warm, safe, and comfortable.
Your Comfort is Our Priority
This winter, you can trust that Scotia Fuels is monitoring the weather and tracking Degree Days, so you don’t have to. Our automatic delivery service means fewer worries, no surprises, and a warm home all season long. That’s the Scotia Fuels promise.
If you’re not already on our automatic delivery program, drop us a line at https://scotiafuels.com/contact-us/, or call us at 902-453-2121. Let’s keep the cold where it belongs—outside!