Heat consumption in buildings depends on the thermal characteristics of the building structure, and the efficiency of the heating system. Additionally, it is influenced by the behavioural aspects of building occupants. If the occupants are not motivated to conserve energy, the final savings might be far below the expected level.
For example, in apartment buildings with a central heat source (district heating connection or central heating plant), it is better to allocate the heat costs between the apartments. Past experiences have showed that a cost allocation based on the floor surface area of an apartment does not encourage the optimal energy use among the occupants. Thus, the individual heat metering in apartments is one of the energy efficiency measures that enables energy saving, by introducing the principle of accurate billing based on the actual consumption. This is technically feasible, and cost-efficient.
