System and method for forecasting fuel consumption for indoor thermal conditioning using thermal performance forecast approach with the aid of a digital computer
A system and method for forecasting fuel consumption for indoor thermal conditioning using thermal performance forecast approach with the aid of a digital computer are provided. Average daily outdoor temperatures for a time period are obtained. Historical daily fuel consumption for the time period is obtained. The historical daily fuel consumption is converted into an average daily fuel usage rates for the time period. A continuous frequency distribution of occurrences of the average daily outdoor temperatures is generated. A plot of the daily fuel usage rates versus the average daily outdoor temperatures is created. Fuel consumption for at least a portion of the time period is calculated based on sampling the daily fuel usage rate along a range of average daily outdoor temperatures times the temperatures' respective frequencies of occurrence.