| When we move, we generally focus on the | | | | includes the National Weather Service) |
| residence, the neighborhood, taxes, schools, | | | | provides maps of "Heating Degree Days" and |
| and the like. There are occasions, though, | | | | "Cooling Degree Days". Exactly, what are |
| when we want something specific in a | | | | "Heating Degree Days" and "Cooling Degree |
| location. Recently, one of our visitors | | | | Days"? |
| asked for help finding a locale with very | | | | |
| specific and unique attributes. | | | | One heating degree day occurs for each degree |
| | | | the daily mean temperature is below 65 |
| She and her husband live in southern | | | | degrees Fahrenheit. So if the average |
| California and wanted to move somewhere less | | | | temperature is 63 on a particular day, that's |
| expensive, near woodlands, not too hot, not | | | | two Heating Degree Days (2 degrees multiplied |
| too cold, and not too much snow. Seems like | | | | by 1 day). It indicates fuel consumption to |
| looking for a needle in the haystack, right? | | | | heat your residence. |
| Not necessarily--thanks to all of the data | | | | |
| available on the web. | | | | One cooling degree day occurs for each degree |
| | | | the daily mean temperature is above 65 |
| We broke the request into three components: | | | | degrees Fahrenheit. So if the average |
| cost of living, climate, and forest cover. | | | | temperature is 67 on a particular day, that's |
| | | | two Cooling Degree Days (2 degrees multiplied |
| Determining the cost of living for all | | | | by 1 day). It indicates electricity |
| locales across the state could be very | | | | consumption to cool your residence. |
| complicated, so we made some simplifying | | | | |
| assumptions. First, housing, food, and | | | | So all we had to do was compare those two |
| energy costs account for most of the average | | | | maps with our housing cost map to find areas |
| household budget. Second, food and energy | | | | that weren't too hot, weren't too cold, and |
| costs tend to be consistent across regions. | | | | weren't too expensive. Heating degree days |
| That left us with housing costs. | | | | are at moderate levels in the central valley |
| | | | and along the central coast. Cooling degree |
| We then broke down housing costs into its | | | | days are at moderate levels in the northern |
| major components: mortgage/rent and property | | | | half of the state. Putting it all together, |
| taxes. The US Census collects housing value | | | | we were now focused on a few counties: |
| and property tax data as part of their | | | | Shasta, Tehama, Glenn, and Colusa. |
| decennial survey, so we decided to use that | | | | |
| data to calculate a housing cost index by | | | | Step two complete. |
| county. The results were interesting. While | | | | |
| California as whole is one of the most | | | | Next, we turned to the US Geological Survey |
| expensive states, we found a lot of variance | | | | for a forest cover map of California. Each |
| in housing cost by county within the state. | | | | of those counties had areas of forest cover, |
| | | | specifically pine, fir, spruce, and hardwood. |
| Based on our calculations, Modoc, Kern, and | | | | Comparing the forestry map with the other |
| Kings Counties were the least expensive. | | | | three maps allowed us to identify areas |
| Marin, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz Counties | | | | within each county that would meet their |
| had the highest housing costs. In general, | | | | needs. The western sections of Colusa and |
| northern counties not on the coast were | | | | Glenn counties; the east and west ends of |
| looking most affordable. | | | | Tehama county; and everywhere except the |
| | | | south-central area of Shasta county. |
| So far, so good...at least we could recommend | | | | |
| less expensive areas. Now, how to find areas | | | | Problem solved. Knowing what areas would |
| with moderate temperatures? | | | | meet their general needs, they could now |
| | | | focus on finding the best place to live in |
| NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric | | | | any one of those areas. |
| Administration--the branch of government that | | | | |