Climate Change as a Driving Force on Urban Energy Consumption Patterns

Heating Degree Days (HDD), in cases where temperatures are below 18°C, and Cooling Degree Days (CDD), in cases where temperatures are above 21°C, were used as energy consumption indices. During the last half century, mean annual temperatures have increased and as a consequence, CDD in the warm season have increased sharply. In the same time slice, HDD, even in the cool and cold season have declined steadily. The number of monthly and annual total HDD (mean= 1556) are much higher than CDD (mean=400) in the case study area and annual total HDD and CDD have a negative correlation (Pearson correlation = - 0.493; p = 0.001). The deceasing rate of HDD is limited and steady (R2= 0.062, p=0.099), but the increasing rate of CDD in the same time slice is sharp (R2=0.427, p=0.813). This shows that energy consumption patterns have increased sharply, and with available projection scenarios, is projected to increase more rapidly, leading to higher energy costs.