The recent energy crises have shown that supply-side measures alone are insufficient to ensure energy security in Europe. We therefore welcome the European Commission’s AccelerateEU Catalogue, which recognises optimised default settings for centralised heating systems, alongside smart heating controls and thermostats, as fast routes to stronger resilience, lower energy bills and greater energy independence.
While this represents a significant step toward more energy-efficient buildings, WE Data Europe has identified readily available digital solutions based on submetering data that further enhance transparency, encourage behavioural change, and unlock additional efficiency gains of up to 30% through data-driven optimisation that go beyond the Commission’s current recommendations.
The paper presents practical and scalable measures, including:
Digital best practices
- Deploying submetering to improve transparency and achieve energy savings
- Digital optimisation of heating and cooling systems
- Targeted building renovations enabled by accurate consumption data
Policy best practices from Member States
- Boosting submetering coverage in buildings
- Using submetering data to detect inefficiencies
- Optimising heating systems and improving hydraulic balancing
Together, these recommendations provide practical tools to deliver immediate energy savings, strengthen resilience, enhance affordability, and accelerate the transition towards a more secure and sustainable European energy system.
Download the full paper below to explore the recommendations and best practices in detail.
