Energy 76 (2014) 780e787

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Energy
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/energy

Prediction of energy demand for heating of residential buildings using

variable degree day



n Verbai, Akos
Zolta
r*
Lakatos, Ferenc Kalma


University of Debrecen, Department of Building Services and Building Engineering, 4028 Debrecen, Otemeto} Str. 2-4, Hungary

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: In all European countries the energy and building related legislature stand for energy refurbishment of
Received 18 April 2014 existing building stock. Depending on the economical situation of countries there are different national
Received in revised form programs that help owners to invest in energy related refurbishments of their houses or flats. The
29 July 2014
financial support is given only in case of a certain payback time, which should be obtained by the
Accepted 21 August 2014
proposed project. The payback time for heating related investments in Hungary is calculated based on
Available online 18 September 2014
the theoretical degree day curve, which can lead to inaccurate results. Thus in this paper a long-term
analysis of heating degree day, done for Debrecen (the second largest city of Hungary), is presented.
Keywords:
Degree day
We focused our analysis on residential buildings. It was found that the degree day has important vari-
Heating ations during the analysed decades, which can lead to deviations of energy consumption up to 15e18%.
Energy demand Furthermore, taking into account the heat island effects in Debrecen, it was proven that differences of
Building refurbishment about 22% can be obtained between real degree day values in different zones of the city. The interrelation
between specific heat gains and balance point temperature, respectively the effects of glazed area of the
facades on the balance point temperature was discussed. It was found that for buildings with similar
thermal characteristics of the envelope and the same values of specific heat gains, the balance point
temperature can be even double for a detached house compared with a block of flats.
© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction determined using a degree day curve developed based on mete-

According to Directive 2002/91/EC, buildings accounts for
more than 40% of final energy consumption in the Community and
is expanding. As a result, this trend will lead to higher carbon
dioxide emissions in this sector. The Directive 2010/31/EU high-
lights that measures to improve the energy performance of
buildings further should take climatic and local conditions into
account as well as indoor climate environment and cost-
effectiveness. In Hungary different national projects were
launched in order to help the owners of houses or flats or local
governments to enhance the energy characteristics of buildings. In
each of these programs one of the main indicators was to decrease
the energy demand of the building after refurbishment improving
its envelope and its energy supply system. For a typical detached
house with average thermal characteristics of the envelope, in
central European countries heating represents between 70 and
80% of its energy need. Consequently the establishment of exact
energy demand for heating is of crucial importance in such ap-
plications. At present in Hungary, heating energy demand is
* Corresponding author. Tel.: þ36 52 415155; fax: þ36 52 418643.
E-mail addresses: verbai@eng.unideb.hu (Z. Verbai), alakatos@eng.unideb.hu

Lakatos), fkalmar@eng.unideb.hu, f_kalmar@yahoo.com (F. Kalma
(A.
r).
orological data recorded between the period 1900e1930. This
should be revised in order to obtain proper data on the energy
demand based on which payback time of investments are deter-
mined. The importance of this problem is illustrated by the high
number of publications dealing with interrelation between
economical efficiency of building energy refurbishments e
climate. Ref. [1] developed a methodology for evaluating the po-
tential energy savings of retrofitting residential building stocks
considering the actual technological and economic constraints of
the implementation of feasible energy efficiency measures. The
optimal insulation thicknesses for insulating the buildings
external elements was analysed by several authors [2e5]. Ref. [6]
developed building typologies which can be a useful instrument
to facilitate the energy performance assessment of a building
stock. Ref. [7] analysed the economic potential of energy-efficient
retrofitting in the Swiss residential building sector taking the ef-
fects of policy instruments and energy price expectations into
account. Ref. [8] studied the potential of residential buildings in
Switzerland considering the energy and building technology for
the 2000 W society. Nevertheless, besides physical properties of
the external building elements and efficiency of heat production
and supply system, the balance point temperature of the building

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2014.08.075
0360-5442/© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
 Z. Verbai et al. / Energy 76 (2014) 780e787
Nomenclature
Qt transmission heat losses, [W]
Qtb heat losses by thermal bridges, [W]
Qv heat losses by ventilation, [W]
Qgains specific heat gains of the building, [W/m2]
Qs solar gains, [W]
Qi internal gains, [W]
Qh heat delivered by heating system, [W]
tb balance point temperature, [ C]
K heat loss coefficient of the building, [W/K]
ti internal set point temperature, [ C]
te daily average external temperature, [ C]
tbase base temperature, [ C]
x the number of days
N number of days in a heating season
te0 design value of external temperature, [ C]
tb0 balance point temperature of the building after
refurbishment, [ C]
K’ heat loss coefficient of the building after
refurbishmment, [W/K]
and the degree day value are essential to establish the energy
demand of heating. Ref. [9] described an application of the degree-
hours method estimating the residential heating energy require-
ment and fuel consumption in Istanbul. Using hourly dry bulb
temperature records from the meteorological stations of the Na-
tional Observatory of Athens and of the Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki, the heating and cooling degree-hours for the two
main cities in Greece were determined [10]. The heating and
cooling degree-days for Turkey were determined by using long-
term measured data [11]. Ref. [12] mapped the regional varia-
tions of monthly degreeedays in Turkey and examined their
relation to local topography. Based on daily weather data of 40
meteorological stations of the Hellenic National Weather Service,
[13] drew up ten heating degree day maps that have proven to be
useful for various energy projects and other environmental ap-
plications. Ref. [14] analysed the period between 1898 and 1978 to
develop a scenario of possible variation of weather related resi-
dential energy consumption. Ref. [15] presented the potential
impacts of climate change on heating and cooling energy demand.
Ref. [16] analysed the climate extremes and their model shows
changes in extreme events for future climates, such as increases to
extremely high temperature, decreases to extremely low tem-
perature, and increases in intense precipitation events. Ref. [17]
provided a study on the future energy demand during climatic
change which also took possible future changes of the German
building stock, renovation measures and heating systems into
account. Ref. [18] presented a very useful combined dynamic
simulation and optimisation model to determine the energy re-
quirements in residential sector, however in his model the effects
of degree day variation were not taken into account. Different
authors considered even the effects of heat islands in order to have
a correct determination of degree day [19,20]. Ref. [21] presented
a comparison of different degree day calculation methods. They
concluded that if the methods are used for base temperatures
lower than the current standard then the uncertainties increase.
CIBSE published a guidance (TM41:2006) on this topic in which
the calculation methods and the importance of degree day uti-
lisation in energy management of buildings are well described.
Ref. [23] developed a formal method for quantifying the
781
N’ number of days in a heating season for refurbished
building
E energy demand for heating, [Wh]
A envelope of the building's heated volume, [m2]
V heated volume of the building, [m3]
devN deviation between theoretical and real values of the
number of days in a heating season, [%]
Ntheoretical number of days in a heating season calculated based
on the theoretical degree day curve
Nreal number of days in a heating season calculated based on
the real degree day curve
devDD deviation between theoretical and real values of
degree days in a heating season, [%]
DDtheoretical degree days in a heating season calculated based on
the theoretical degree day curve
DDreal degree days in a heating season calculated based on
the real degree day curve
Τ time, [h]
Uwall overall heat transfer coefficient of external walls of the
building, [W/m2K]
Uwin overall heat transfer coefficient of windows, [W/m2K]
hg gain utilisation factor for heating, [-].
uncertainties in degree-day-based energy estimates in buildings.
The results show that degree-day uncertainties diminish with
longer time frames.
The analysed articles mentioned above emphasised the impor-
tance of degree day and proved that without updated degree day
values the real energy demand and energy consumption of a
building cannot be determined. We considered that data given by
the theoretical degree day curve used in Hungary are valid only with
assumptions. These data can be used in case of comparing two or
more buildings (energy certification), yet cannot serve as a baseline
for correct evaluation of the heating energy demand for a building.
Nowadays the energy consumption of buildings is predicted by
using simulation programs, which give detailed information on the
energy behaviour of a building. However simulation techniques
need a series of information which sometimes are difficult to be
precisely identified.
There are cases when the available timeframe given for energy
calculation is not enough for a complex simulation. For rapid
calculations instead of simulations simplified calculation
methods, such degree day, are accepted. The disadvantage of de-
gree day techniques is that these can only provide approximate
results. Nevertheless for estimations of buildings energy use de-
gree day offers a rapid and easy calculation method. In case of
investments related to buildings energy refurbishment the
payback time is strongly influenced by the energy savings ob-
tained. The reduction of energy consumption after building
refurbishment should be calculated as precisely as possible,
otherwise investors will face unpleasant surprises. Based on the
international literature analysed above we decided to build up the
degree day curve for Debrecen, the second largest city of Hungary,
using meteorological data of the last 50 years. In the future we
plan to draw up the degree day map of Hungary as well. Based on
the hourly dry bulb temperature records we received from Agro-
Meteorological Observatory Debrecen (DE-AGTC MEK)
a long
term analysis of degree day was done for Debrecen. Moreover, in
this article, the effects of degree day curve variation on the energy
demand for heating can be found.
782 Z. Verbai et al. / Energy 76 (2014) 780e787
2. Balance point temperature, energy demand for heating
Neglecting the variation of stored heat, during the heating sys-
tem operation, the condition of thermal balance can be found using
equation (1):


Qt þ Qtb þ Qv þ hg Qs þ Qi þ Qh ¼ 0
In Eq. (1) heat gains and the heat delivered by heating system
are considered positive, heat losses are negative. The heat to be
delivered by the heating system depends on the climatic conditions
and the internal set point temperature. The main goal is the min-
imisation of the heat losses and the energy demand. From view-
point of energy the achievement of the internal set point
temperature without auxiliary heating is favourable.
When the heating system is switched off, due to the solar and
internal gains the internal temperature would exceed the external
one. The balance point temperature of a building is the external
temperature when the heat gains are equal to the heat losses:
Qs þ Qi
tb ¼ ti  hg
K
The value of gain utilisation factor can be determined based on
ISO 13790:2008 Standard. For a certain building, using the balance
point temperature value and the specific degree day curve the
duration of a heating season could be determined (see Fig. 1).
Using the geometrical interpolation method, the theoretical
degree-day curve used in Hungary can be approximated with a
function, [5]:
te ¼ 15 þ 3:55x0:3835
If the external temperature is equal to the balance point tem-
perature, the number of days in a heating season can be obtained by
using the following equation, [5]:
 2:6
tb  te0
N¼
3:55
After thermal rehabilitation of a building the heat loss coeffi-
cient will decrease considerably (K0 ) whereas the heat gains remain
the same. Thus, the new value of the balance point temperature
could be calculated with the following relation:
ti  tb
tb0 ¼ ti 
K 0 =K
Having the value of the balance point temperature after thermal
rehabilitation, the number of days in the new, shorter, heating
season is the following:
Fig. 1. Determination of the number of days in a heating season based on degree day
curve.
 
t t
N0 ¼ N ti  te0  i 0 b ðtb  te0 Þ (6)
K =K
In Hungary until 1990, the most commonly used supply/return
temperatures for central heating systems were 90/70  C degree.
The heat supply by using district heating systems was started when
(1) the daily average external temperature for three consecutive days
remained under 12  C. This temperature was considered to be the
balance point temperature for a residential building with average
thermal properties of the envelope. Nowadays, more and more
buildings are refurbished and the balance point temperatures
strongly differ from one building to another. The heat supply by
district heating systems starts based on the application of the
building owners. The variation of balance point temperature and
the number of days in the new heating season in function of the
rehabilitation level when the original value of balance point tem-
perature is 12  C is presented in Fig. 2.
The heating energy demand for a building could be written as:
Z Z
E¼K ðti  te Þdt  ðQs þ Qi Þdt (7)
(2)
Heat gains of a building are constituted from solar gains and
internal gains. The solar gains are influenced by the orientation of
the facades, by season and meteorological conditions, by the glazed
surfaces area moreover its gain factor. The internal gains are the
cumulated heat emitted by occupants, lighting, household appli-
ances etc. Thus the internal gains could be assumed to be constant
however, the bigger the flat/detached house area is, the lower the
specific heat gain values are.
(3) At different building types to obtain the balance point temper-
ature equal to 12  C, the calculus have to be made assuming
different specific heat gain values, even if the building elements
have the same thermal properties. In Fig. 3 the variation of heat
gains needed to obtain 12  C balance point temperature, in function
of A/V value can be seen taking, different glazing ratio of the
external walls into account (15% and 30%).
(4)
As it could be observed at a detached house with an A/V value
equal to 1.0 the necessary specific heat gains have to be almost
twice than in case of a block of flats (A/V ¼ 0.4). This is practically
impossible, thus at the same value of the specific heat gains the
balance point temperature will be higher at buildings with higher
values of the A/V factor. Moreover, it can be stated that, for the
studied interval of A/V ratio, the influence of the glazed area vari-
(5) ation (15…30%) on the specific heat gains needed, could be
neglected. In Fig. 4 the variation of the balance point temperature is
presented depending on the specific heat gains, assuming different
Fig. 2. Variation of the number of days in a heating season and balance point tem-
perature depending on the reduction of heat loss coefficient.
 Z. Verbai et al. / Energy 76 (2014) 780e787 783

Fig. 3. Specific heat gains needed to obtain tb ¼ 12  C. for buildings with certain
thermal characteristics of the envelope and different glazed ratios of the facades.
A/V ratios for the analysed buildings. The internal set point tem-
perature is considered 20  C. The glazed area of the facades for
analysed buildings is 30%, the heat transfer coefficient of walls is
1.5 W/m2K and the heat transfer coefficient of windows is 2.5 W/
m2K. It can be observed that for internal gains equal to 20 W/m2,
the balance point temperature is almost double for a detached
house (A/V ¼ 1 m2/m3) in comparison with a block of flats (A/
V ¼ 0.2 m2/m3).
For calculation of building energy demand, the specific climate
conditions are used for the settlement where the building is being
built. It is of high importance to know exactly the degree day value
(heating or cooling), otherwise serious errors may occur, which
might lead to erroneous decisions. To estimate the exact value of
balance point temperature and the duration of the heating season,
the degree day curve should be determined as precisely as possible.
3. Base temperature
The duration of the heating season can be determined based on
the degree day curve if the balance point temperature of building is
known. At this temperature the heat gains of a building are equal to
the heat losses. If outdoor temperatures are lower than the balance
point temperature the heating system will deliver the demanded
heat in order to assure the indoor set point temperature.
Because degree day is practically obtained summing tempera-
ture differences between indoor reference (or base) temperature
and outdoor temperature (Eq. (8)), it is important to establish the
reference (base) indoor temperature value.
X
N

DD ¼ tbase  t e
1
Fig. 4. Balance point temperature for different building types (30% glazed area of the
facades) depending on the specific heat gains.
result in overestimation of energy use for heating, since heat gains
(even though variable) will reduce the energy use (if heating sys-
tem is provided with a properly chosen and installed control sys-
tem). However, assuming the heat gains constant during the
heating season and equal to their highest value will lead to un-
derestimation of heating energy demand.
Ref. [24] presented the energy signature method for assessing
the base temperature of a building. Using daily energy values and
outdoor temperatures they constructed the energy signature (daily
energy consumption vs. mean outdoor temperature) of the build-
ing. This method will lead to precise evaluation of base temperature
but it is applicable for existing buildings. The disadvantage is that
this method is time consuming since at least two years measure-
ments are needed.
For new buildings or buildings before refurbishment where
there is no possibility to perform measurements previously in order
to estimate the heat gains during heating season, it is secure to
assume as base temperature the indoor set point temperature. In
order to estimate as precisely as possible the heating energy need
using degree day method besides the base temperature the degree
day curve must be determined as correctly as possible.
4. The real degree day in Debrecen
Based on the hourly dry bulb temperature records we got from

for the
Agro-Meteorological Observatory Debrecen (DE AGTC MEK)
(8)

Degree day practically is the area determined by base temper-

ature line and degree day curve line (Fig. 5). It can be observed that
the obtained area depends considerably by base temperature value
assumed.
According to Ref. [22] the base temperature could be equal to
the balance point temperature. To define the base temperature it is
necessary to take average values of these variables over a suitable
time period [22]. This method practically means that during the
heating season (or a month) heat gains are assumed to be constant
and equal to the heat gains calculated at balance point. Neverthe-
less, solar heat gains are continuously varying during a day, or
during the whole heating season and even internal gains cannot be
considered to be constant (lighting, number of occupants, appli-
ances operation, etc.).
In Hungary currently degree day is determined assuming indoor
set point temperature as base temperature. This assumption will Fig. 5. Determination of degree-day.
784 Z. Verbai et al. / Energy 76 (2014) 780e787

Ntheoretical  Nreal
devN ¼ 100; ½%  (9)
Ntheoretical
The variation of the duration of the heating season year by year
is between 12% and þ4%. This means that in reality the heating
season is shorter than it was assumed initially. Consequently the
saved energy will be lower than planned and the real pay-back time
will be longer than it was estimated.
In most Hungarian dwellings the mean indoor temperature can
be considered between 20  C-22  C degree. Taking the duration of a
heating season into consideration the degree day value can be
easily determined, by integrating the surface between set indoor air
temperature and degree day curve. The obtained degree day values
are shown in Fig. 8.
Between the extreme points of the above mentioned diagram
quite important differences can be observed. Assuming a well
insulated building (built after 2010) with 20  C mean indoor tem-
perature, based on the theoretical degree day curve the degree day
value for heating will be: 2591.7 [Kd].
Fig. 6. Real degree day curves in Debrecen for analysed decades (1964e2012). If the mean indoor temperature in this building is 22  C the
degree day will be higher with 11.2%. If the building is poorly
insulated (characteristic for buildings built in Hungary before 1990)
and the mean indoor temperature is 20  C, the degree day will be
higher with 30% than the initial value. If the building is poorly
insulated and the indoor temperature is set to 22  C, the degree day
will be higher with 48.4% than the initial value.
Taking the newly developed degree day curves for the analysed
decades into account, the deviations as compared with theoretical
values (Fig. 8) have been calculated using equation (10):

Fig. 7. Duration of the heating season depending on the balance point temperature
(based on the theoretical degree day curve).
period between 1964 and 2012, the degree day curves have been
created for five decades. The curves obtained are shown in Fig. 6. It
can be observed that there are important differences between the
durations of the heating season. Assuming different balance point
temperatures between 8  C and 16  C, based on the theoretical
degree day curve, the number of days in a heating season is pre-
sented in Fig. 7. In Table 1 the deviations in percent for the analysed
decades can be found. The presented deviation values have been
calculated using equation (9):
DDtheoretical  DDreal
devDD ¼ 100; ½%  (10)
DDtheoretical
The obtained deviation values belonging to the indoor set point
temperature (20  C), are presented in Table 2.
It can be observed that for degree day deviations only negative
values were obtained. This means that in reality the energy need for
heating will be lower than expected, consequently the estimated
energy savings cannot be obtained.
Assuming higher indoor temperature values the deviations
became lower.
Analysing the obtained degree day values we suggest that for
energy consumption calculations of buildings first and foremost the
real degree day values should be determined. For the analysed
years the obtained variation of degree day can be well approxi-
mated with a periodical function (Fig. 9). Consequently we suggest
that for heating energy demand calculations the predicted degree
day value should be taken into account based on a periodical
variation which can be extrapolated for the following decades. In
this case large deviations of the degree day (higher than 5%) can be
avoided and the expected energy demand obtained using energy
calculation programs will be closer to the real value. The payback
time of a building refurbishment, depending on the energy prices
and the depth of interventions, can be 20e40 years. This period of
time is too long for using a single theoretical value of degree day.

Table 1
Deviations of the real duration of heating season as compared with theoretical values, [%].

Decade Balance point temperature, [ C]

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

1963e1972 6.87 4.46 3.48 2.58 2.53 2.46 3.90 4.79 5.73
1973e1982 11.66 9.52 8.14 7.44 7.96 8.60 9.02 9.57 9.06
1983e1992 7.10 5.13 2.92 2.78 3.30 4.73 6.79 8.26 9.77
1993e2002 0.50 3.19 4.23 3.73 3.48 1.62 0.87 1.17 0.90
2003e2012 1.05 2.74 3.35 3.63 1.98 0.40 0.43 0.56 1.27
 Z. Verbai et al. / Energy 76 (2014) 780e787 785

Fig. 8. Degree day values calculated based on the theoretical degree day curve for
building having different balance point temperatures. Fig. 9. Real values of degree day in Debrecen (1964e2012).

The dynamic of climate should be taken into account. The best
solution is to combine the degree day variation of previous decades
with regional climate models. There are different studies and re-
ports related to European seasonal and annual temperature vari-
ability which give us useful and sufficient information on the trends
of meteorological parameters variation [25e27].
5. Urban heat island
As in Central European countries heating represents about
70e80% of the total energy consumption of a building with average
thermal characteristics, the energy consumption should be calcu-
lated as precisely as possible. In residential buildings cooling sys-
tem is not common. Consequently, the next step in our research
was the analysis of heat island effect on the heating degree day
curve.
According to Ref. [28] in Debrecen the heat island effect will lead
to an increase of the external temperature with 2.5  C in the
downtown. We divided the area of the city accordingly into three
zones (see Fig. 10). In these zones the degree day is different.
In the peripheral zone family houses can be found mainly,
equipped with their own heating systems. The heat source is a
natural gas boiler or two boilers: one using natural gas, the other
one using solid fuel (especially wood). In the middle zone family
houses as well as panel buildings had been built. The panel build-
ings are usually connected to district heating system; the family
houses have their own central heating system with natural gas
boiler. In the city centre there are mainly old multifamily houses
connected to district heating system since in this zone this heating
source has to be used.
In Fig. 11, substantial differences can be discovered among the
developed degree day curves for the analysed zones of the city.
Accordingly, the degree day values will have important deviations
taking as reference the degree day in peripheral zone. For the
analysed decades, assuming different indoor design temperatures,
these deviations have been calculated based on equation (10). The
results, for the decade between 2003 and 2012, are presented in
Table 3. The degree day in the middle zone is lower with 9% as
compared with the degree day in peripheral zone. In the downtown
the reduction of degree day can reach even 20%. Naturally, in case of
refurbishment of a high number of residential buildings in a town
the urban heat island effect is diminished in some extent, which
will lead to increase of energy demand for heating.
6. Discussions
Nowadays the energy calculation methods and programs use
the theoretical degree day curve. As a result of our research, our
opinion is that the use of this theoretical value can lead to false
information related to energy use for heating.
In Hungary about 50% of households are placed in single family
houses. We analysed the energy consumption of a typical family
house for period 1990e2010. The house is situated in peripheral
zone of Debrecen, the net floor area is 114 m2, the overall heat loss
coefficient is 577.44 W/K. Using the actual calculation method of
heating energy demand the yearly energy need is 32.77 MWh/a.
This means that during 21 years the expected energy consumption
for heating theoretically will be 688.17 MWh. Using the developed
variable degree day method, the energy consumption for the ana-
lysed period will be 749.13 MWh. The difference is 60.96 MWh,
which is equivalent of 6454.6 m3 natural gas. This amount of nat-
ural gas covers practically the energy demand for heating of ana-
lysed family house for about 2.0 years. Assuming a refurbishment of
analysed building in 1990, its overall heat loss coefficient decrease

Table 2
Deviations of the real degree day as compared with theoretical values, [%].

Decade Balance point temperature, [ C]

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

1963e1972 15.22 13.18 12.15 11.30 11.01 10.75 11.20 11.38 11.57
1973e1982 17.82 16.07 14.89 14.23 14.31 14.45 14.50 14.60 14.35
1983e1992 15.52 13.77 11.97 11.55 11.57 12.04 12.77 13.20 13.60
1993e2002 3.01 1.04 0.19 0.31 0.33 1.12 1.39 1.23 1.27
2003e2012 4.48 3.07 2.41 2.03 2.75 3.38 3.66 3.22 2.92
786 Z. Verbai et al. / Energy 76 (2014) 780e787
Fig. 10. Areas with different degree day curves in Debrecen.
to 251.16 W/K, the yearly energy demand would be 11.88 MWh. This
means that theoretically the yearly energy saving is 20.89 MWh.
Using the theoretical degree day curve the energy consumption for
21 years would be 249.48 MWh. Based on the variable degree day
method the energy consumption in timeframe 1990e2010 will be
313.97 MWh. The difference is equivalent of 6829.3 m3 natural gas,
which represents the natural gas consumption of analysed (refur-
bished) family house for 5.4 years. Because the energy consumption
of refurbished house is higher than expected, the payback time
probably will be longer than initially calculated.
7. Conclusions
In this paper we gave a comprehensive report on the long-term
analysis of heating degree day, executed for Debrecen. The results
obtained for residential buildings have proven that:
 the degree day curve used at present cannot give useful and
proper information on the energy demand for heating, conse-
quently should not be used for calculation methods and
programs;
Fig. 11. Real degree day curves for the last decade taking into account the heat island
effect in Debrecen.
Table 3
Deviations of the real degree day as compared with real values in peripheral zone
taking the heat island effect into account [%] (mean indoor temperature, 20  C).
Heat island Balance point temperature, [ C]
effect
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

þ1.25 C 11.00 10.36 10.69 10.20 10.54 10.50 10.02 9.61 9.61
þ2.5  C 21.66 20.45 20.20 20.04 19.93 20.18 19.73 19.00 18.70
 for precise calculations, the heat island effects should be taken
into account, otherwise the payback time of building refur-
bishment can differ even with 22% from the expected value;
 in case of state supported projects the payback time is one of the
parameters with the biggest weight, so its precise determina-
tion is crucial in the competition process to gain support. Ac-
cording to our research we stand for a calculation of heating
demand of buildings based on a periodically variable degree day
value. This can be extrapolated for the following decades and
continuously adjusted based on the measured meteorological
data;
 in cities the heat island can have important effects on the heat
demand of a building, consequently the degree day values must
be corrected so as to obtain appropriate data related to energy
demand for heating.
Acknowledgement


The work of the research group is supported by the TAMOP-
4.2.2.A-11/1/KONV-2012-0041 project. The project is co-financed
by the European Union and the European Social Fund.


“The research of Akos Lakatos was realized in the frames of


TAMOP 4.2.4. A/2-11-1-2012-0001” National Excellence Program e
Elaborating and operating an inland student and researcher per-
sonal support system convergence program”. The project was
subsidized by the European Union and co-financed by the European
Social Fund.”
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