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Unlocking up to 40% Energy Savings: How Digital Optimisation Transforms Building Heating Systems in Europe

15.10.2025
Heating and cooling is at the heart of Europe’s energy challenge. Buildings account for 40% of the EU’s total energy consumption [Energy Balances, Eurostat, May 2025], with heating and cooling demand alone responsible for over a quarter of final energy use [Energy consumption in households Eurostat, June 25]. Yet, most buildings still operate oversized, misconfigured heating systems, often running at unnecessarily high supply temperatures, wasting vast amounts of energy and blocking the integration of low-temperature heating sources.   Drawing on real-life case studies of digital solutions implemented in Germany, Denmark and Spain, this brochure demonstrates how data-driven heating system optimisation, enabled by submetering and smart control technologies, can tackle these inefficiencies and unlock sustained energy savings of 20 – 40% without requiring structural changes or major investments, while maintaining thermal comfort of residents.   Digital optimisation achieves these results by using consumption and temperature data to adjust heating system settings, improve hydraulic balancing, and lower return temperatures, ensuring that the energy is delivered in the building in the most efficient way possible, only when and where it is needed.   Beyond reducing energy waste, optimisation solutions make buildings ready for low-temperature heating solutions, such as heat pumps and district heating, and therefore directly support the decarbonisation objectives of the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Find our Brochure, featuring seven case studies on heating system optimisation, here. Based on these findings, WE Data Europe recommends the following points to be taken up in the Heating & Cooling Strategy as well as in the Electrification Action Plan:
  1. Introduce a dedicated digitalisation chapter
  2. Prioritise data-driven optimisation of heating systems in investments on buildings efficiency
  3. Favour digital metering over drive-by or walk-by systems to maximise the benefits of remotely readable meters
  4. Ensure the full and consistent implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive across Member States.
Find our full set of Policy Recommendations here.
Techem

Techem is a leading service provider for smart and sustainable buildings. The company’s services cover energy management and resource conservation, residential health and process efficiency in real estate. Founded in 1952, the company is now active in 18 countries with a strong focus on the EU, where we are present in 15 member states. Techem has over 4.000 employees and services more than 13 million dwellings. Techem offers efficiency improvements along the entire value chain of heat and water in real estate. As the market leader in remote radio detection of energy consumption in homes, Techem continues to drive networking and digital processes in real estate. Modern radio smoke detectors and modern multi sensor devices with remote inspection and services related to improving drinking water quality in properties complement the solution portfolio for the housing industry.

Techem.com
Ocea
Ocea Smart Building is a leading French company specializing in sub-metering for collective housing. With 550 employees and 29 agencies across the country, the company offers solutions for sub-metering on cold water, hot water, and heating for condominiums and social landlords. Ocea provides remote reading solutions along with data analysis and processing platforms. Additionally, Ocea offers complementary IoT solutions and financed solutions for replacing gas or fuel collective boilers with heat pump systems, particularly geothermal ones.
Groupe-ocea.fr
Ista

We give buildings a future. We make this happen with products and services that help to reduce the CO2 emissions of buildings. We manage data and processes that make properties more climate-friendly, safer and more comfortable. The base for our products and services is digital. We ensure that we make it easy for everyone to switch to our sustainable technologies. This allows everyone to make their contribution to climate protection.

We already have over 45 million wireless devices in operation around the globe and develop solutions for energy-efficient and futureproof buildings. We employ over 6,300 people across 20 countries and our products and services are used in over 14 million homes and commercial properties worldwide – by more than 460,000 customers. In 2024, the entire Ista Group recorded sales of EUR 1,220 million euros.

Ista.com
Kalorimeta

KALO (Kalorimeta GmbH) is the partner for the smart energy transition in residential properties. As a Hamburg-based pioneer in the digitalization of building infrastructure with over 60 years of experience, we provide end-to-end solutions for the housing industry to make energy consumption transparent and energy and CO₂ reduction actionable.

Our broad service portfolio is ranging from submetering and smart metering to digital services that provide building owners and managers with the necessary data to comply with legal requirements, optimize energy efficiency, and significantly reduce CO₂ emissions. Our product portfolio is complemented with smoke detector services as well as smart heating solutions and intelligent central heating control systems. With our modern gateway infrastructure, we not only connect our metering devices but also integrate IoT applications for energy transition in buildings like smart heating, e-mobility and solar panel infrastructure.

Kalo.de
Brunata Metrona

As a partner to the property industry, the BRUNATA-METRONA Group enables efficient and responsible use of the environment and resources. Transparent consumption and energy data form the basis for intelligent and future-oriented energy management to maintain the value of buildings. We help to operate properties in a resource-efficient and future-proof manner, use energy efficiently, reduce CO2 emissions in buildings and cut energy costs. In doing so, we play a leading role in our industry by providing the highest quality and customised products for our customers. Our innovative solutions, services and expertise have made us a trusted partner to the building industry for more than 70 years.

Brunata-metrona.de
Brunata Denmark

Brunata – Smart Energy – Solutions for a Greener Future

Brunata is dedicated to transforming our buildings, homes, and cities into smarter environments.

Wherever people reside, we diligently measure heat consumption, monitor water usage, manage energy, oversee the indoor climate, protect properties and much more. We are committed to delivering intelligent solutions for at sustainable future, leveraging over a century of expertise in the metering industry.

With a history spanning over 100 years, our roots are firmly Danish. Today, Brunata is part of the German-owned Brunata-Minol-ZENNER Group, which employs over 4,200 individuals worldwide.

Our headquarter is situated in Herlev, Denmark, where we collaborate closely with our subsidiaries and partners across most of Europe.

Brunata has transformed into a service provider, offering meters with services that simplify our customers’ daily operation – e.g., our digital platform Brunata Online – the online uses interface for administrators, residential buildings, utilities, sub-users and residents.

Brunata.com