Term: Climate Zone

A climate zone is a classification of the type of weather that is experienced in a specific geographic region of the world.  Climate zones are differentiated based on average temperatures, precipitation, and heating degree-days (HDD) that occurs in an area.  The US Department of Energy (DOE) Building America program determines building practices based on climate zones to achieve the most energy efficient building practices.  There are 8 climate zones: Marine (C), Hot-Dry (zone 3B), Hot-Humid (zones 2A, 3A), Mixed-Dry (zone 4B), Mixed-Humid (zones 4A,3A), Cold (zones 5,6), Very Cold (zone 7), Subartic (zone 8).