Monthly average of heating degree days in the United Kingdom (UK) 2014-2022

The greatest number of heating degree days (HDD’s) in the United Kingdom tended to be recorded in January and February. In 2022, there were 10.3 HDD’s in January, which was an increase on the previous year. The most HDD’s in the period of consideration were seen in February 2018, at 12.4 days. The following year, this figure only amounted to 8.6 HDD's.

Heating homes

Heating Degree Days are defined as days in which the average temperature is less than 15.5 degrees Celsius. They are used to help measure the demand for energy required to heat buildings. In the UK, by far the most common way to heat property is gas central heating. According to a 2019 survey of over 4,000 households across the UK, 86 percent of respondents reported using gas.

Cold Winters

In January 2021, the average temperature in the UK dropped to just 2.2 degrees Celsius. This was the lowest average monthly temperature between 2014 and 2022. That same month, there were 63.1 air frost days recorded, whereas the previous year only 37.3 air frost days occurred. Air frost days are when the minimum air temperature falls below zero degrees Celsius.