The Influence of Atmospheric Air Temperature on the Consumption of Natural Gas in Terms of Heating Costs of a Single-Family Building – A Case Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the costs of heating a single-family detached home with natural gas during the heating season, considering the variability of atmospheric air temperature. In addition, this study composes a forecast of monthly costs incurred for heating a single-family detached home as an operational guideline for potential users of this type of residential building. The research was conducted during 7 heating seasons covering the years 2015-2022. Daily gas consumption was measured using an automatic gas consumption recorder. The ambient air temperature was gauged using the Nautilus 85 electronic sensor produced by the company ACR with a margin of error of 0.2°C. As a result of this analysis, it was calculated that the average number of days in the heating season is 232 days per year. The average consumption of natural gas for heating purposes is 1,438.1 m3/season. The average expense of heating a building during the heating season is 696 €. Due to determining a high correlation between the daily ambient air temperature and the amount of gas used for heating purposes, it is possible to predict the costs associated with heating the building in the upcoming heating season.

Keywords

• heating expenses
• natural gas
• heating season
• ambient air temperature