code: private static double convertStringToDouble(final String value) {
      double doubleValue = 0;
      if(!StringUtils.isBlank(value)) {
        try {
          doubleValue = Double.parseDouble(value.trim());
        }
        catch(Exception e) {
          // do nothing
        }
      }
      return doubleValue;
    }
docs: Return the double value for the given string value.  If the value cannot be
  converted (e.g., is not a number) 0 will be returned.
  
  @param value value to convert
  
  @return double value for the given string value