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