Accurate Energy Measurement & Fair Billing
Siemens heat meters and heat cost allocators provide reliable and accurate measurement of thermal energy consumption, enabling fair and transparent heating cost allocation in apartment buildings, office complexes, hotels and large commercial facilities. Accurate consumption measurement is essential for reducing energy costs and improving building energy efficiency. With Siemens metering solutions, occupants and tenants are charged only for the energy they actually use, encouraging responsible energy consumption and greater cost transparency.
Smart Energy Monitoring & Building Management
Siemens energy metering solutions can be easily integrated into modern Building Automation systems, Building Management Systems (BMS) and energy management platforms, providing valuable consumption data for monitoring, reporting and optimisation purposes.
Their modular design allows adaptation to different building types and installation requirements, while remote meter reading enables efficient data collection without requiring access to individual apartments or occupied spaces.
Key Benefits:
- Accurate and reliable thermal energy measurement.
- Long-term stability and measurement precision.
- Fair allocation of heating costs.
- Remote meter reading without entering occupied spaces.
- Enhanced privacy for residents and tenants.
- Easy installation and system integration.
- Communication via M-Bus and KNX RF protocols.
- Faster and more accurate billing processes.
- Certified according to EN 1434 standards.
Siemens heat meters and heat cost allocators are an ideal solution for modern buildings seeking improved energy management, reduced operating costs and precise monitoring of thermal energy consumption.
Wireless Heating Autonomy & Cost Allocation System
The Siemens S.E.T. Wireless Heating Autonomy System provides a modern and cost-effective solution for upgrading existing and older apartment buildings with individual heating control, without requiring extensive modifications to the existing infrastructure. The system enables accurate thermal energy measurement and fair heating cost allocation for each apartment, helping reduce energy expenses and improve overall building energy management.
The system presentation includes detailed information about its operation, key benefits and indicative installation costs. For further information and a tailored proposal for your apartment building or commercial property, please contact us to arrange a free on-site assessment by one of our qualified engineers.
Many older apartment buildings in Greece use traditional two-pipe central heating systems, where heating schedules are determined collectively by the residents. This often results in uneven heating, reduced comfort and unnecessary energy consumption.
In addition, the lack of proper hydraulic balancing frequently causes unequal heat distribution throughout the building. Apartments on lower floors tend to receive excessive heating, while those on upper floors often experience insufficient comfort levels.
Common Challenges in Older Buildings
- Limited heating autonomy.
- Uneven heat distribution.
- High energy consumption.
- Frequent disputes regarding heating schedules and shared costs.
- Increased heating expenses.
The Siemens S.E.T. Solution
ΜBy installing thermostatic radiator valves on each radiator and an inverter-controlled circulation pump in the boiler room, the heating network can be hydraulically balanced, ensuring more uniform heat distribution throughout the building. Each apartment gains true heating autonomy, while occupants can independently adjust the temperature of each room according to their needs. The addition of weather-compensated control further optimises boiler operation and improves overall energy efficiency.
To ensure fair heating cost allocation, in line with modern energy efficiency requirements, heat cost allocators are installed on each radiator, while data collection units are installed throughout the building to gather consumption data automatically.
Key Benefits
- Energy savings of up to 40%.
- Fast return on investment.
- Individual heating control for each apartment and room.
- Fair cost allocation based on actual consumption.
- Reduced disputes between residents.
- Improved indoor comfort.
- Enhanced building energy performance.
- Increased property and rental value.
Significant Energy Savings
The chart illustrates the substantial reduction in heating oil consumption in Germany since 1976, achieved through the adoption of modern energy-saving technologies and advanced heating control solutions.
Savings exceeding 2 million tonnes of heating oil.
It is worth noting that most apartment buildings in Germany use two-pipe heating systems, similar to those found in many Greek residential buildings constructed up to the mid-1980s.
By implementing heating autonomy systems, heat metering and heating cost allocation solutions, older apartment buildings can significantly reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs and improve overall building energy efficiency.
Fair Billing with In-Line Heat Meters.
In newer apartment buildings with one-pipe heating systems, each apartment is typically equipped with a room thermostat and an individual zone valve, while heating costs are often allocated through hour meters. The building manager records the operating hours assigned to each apartment and forwards the readings to the property management company for heating cost calculation. However, operating time alone does not always reflect actual thermal energy consumption and may result in inaccurate or unfair billing.
For example:
- Replacing radiators with higher-output models may increase energy consumption even though the apartment reaches the desired temperature more quickly and records fewer operating hours.
- A faulty zone valve may remain partially open, allowing hot water to flow through an apartment’s radiators without the corresponding energy consumption being recorded by its hour meter.
Heat metering is the most reliable method of allocating heating costs because it measures actual energy consumption in kWh rather than simply recording operating time in hours.
In-Line Heat Meters for Accurate Energy Measurement
In-line heat meters provide fair and transparent heating cost allocation for one-pipe heating systems. They are typically installed on the return pipe between two manual isolation valves, allowing easy removal when required. A manual valve with a connection point for the supply temperature sensor is installed on the flow pipe.
The heat meter measures:
- The water flow supplied to each apartment.
- The supply water temperature.
- The return water temperature.
- The actual thermal energy consumed in kWh.
Its integrated electronic processor calculates the energy used by each apartment, enabling accurate billing based on actual consumption.
Benefits of In-Line Heat Meters
- Fair cost allocation based on actual energy use.
- Accurate thermal energy measurement in kWh.
- Independent operation with a battery life of up to 10 years.
- Models available for heating and cooling applications.
- Minimal maintenance requirements.
- Reliable operation in one-pipe heating systems.
- Suitable for space heating and domestic hot water measurement.
- Easy integration into building energy management systems.
In-line heat meters provide a modern and dependable solution for apartment buildings seeking accurate energy measurement, transparent heating cost allocation and improved building energy management.
Reliable Heat & Cooling Energy Metering for Modern Buildings
Siemens ultrasonic heat meters are the ideal solution for applications requiring highly accurate thermal and cooling energy measurement, long-term reliability and minimal maintenance. Using advanced ultrasonic flow measurement technology, they operate without moving parts, ensuring exceptional durability, measurement stability and extended service life.
Siemens offers a comprehensive range of ultrasonic heat meters with nominal flow rates from 0.6 to 90 m³/h, available in both threaded and flanged versions, making them suitable for apartment buildings, office complexes, hotels, hospitals and large commercial facilities.
Advanced Measurement Technology & Remote Reading
Siemens ultrasonic heat meters can be powered either by long-life batteries or by a 230 VAC power supply module.
They also support:
- Remote reading via M-Bus communication.
- Pulse output interfaces.
- Wireless communication at 868 MHz.
- Integration with Building Management Systems (BMS).
- Energy monitoring and management applications.
Key Benefits
- High measurement accuracy across low and high flow rates.
- Ultrasonic technology with no moving parts.
- Low pressure loss.
- Reduced sensitivity to impurities and deposits in the water.
- Excellent long-term measurement stability.
- Maintenance-free operation for 10 years or more.
- Compliance with EN 1434 standards.
- Modular communication architecture.
- High-quality temperature sensors exceeding European requirements.
The ultrasonic measurement principle significantly reduces the impact of dirty water on metering accuracy, ensuring consistent performance and reliable billing throughout the product’s lifetime.
Water Meters for Hot and Cold Water Consumption Monitoring
Siemens also offers a complete range of water meters for accurate measurement of hot and cold water consumption, with both local and remote reading capabilities. These solutions are ideal for apartment buildings, hotels, student residences and facilities with central domestic hot water production, where accurate consumption monitoring and fair cost allocation are essential.