Intermediate metering
Submetering
Control energy consumption with submetering
For cost management, sustainability, and compliance in buildings and installations.
With submetering, additional meters, known as submeters, are installed to make the consumption of a specific part of a building or site visible. By placing more submeters, you gain much more accurate insight into the consumption of gas, water, heat, and electricity within that specific part. This allows an energy manager to take much more targeted measures to save costs or allocate them fairly.
The terms submetering, submeters, and secondary metering are often used interchangeably. In practice, it all comes down to one goal: more insight into consumption, at a more detailed level than just the main meter.
At Imbema, we understand that no project is the same. That's why we offer flexible solutions tailored to your situation. Whether you're looking for a complete turnkey solution or just want to outsource one component – we think along with you and provide exactly what you need.
Why is sub-metering important now?
Core reasons:
- Sustainability → contributes to CO₂ reduction
- Compliance → meets CSRD, EED, EPBD
- Cost savings → insight prevents waste
- Transparency → fair allocation towards tenants/users
- Control over consumption → optimize processes with real-time data
What is submetering
Submetering is the process of making energy consumption transparent per space, user, or installation within a building.
- Measures heat, electricity, gas, and water at a detailed level
- Insight per floor, unit, tenant, process, or charging station
- Suitable for existing and new installations
- Possible integration with dashboards, EMS, or BMS
- Ideal for cost distribution, energy saving, and compliance
For whom is submetering relevant?
Aimed at sectors with collective consumption:
Target Group |
Needs |
| HOAs / Real Estate | Fair cost distribution, ESG accountability |
| Healthcare Institutions | Insight per building section, compliance |
| Recreational Parks | Billing per cabin, remote management |
| Retail / Offices | Consumption per store/unit, transparency |
| Industry | Process optimization, waste detection |
How does submetering work?
Submetering is more than just installing a meter. It is a complete process where we ensure a smoothly functioning solution from sensor to dashboard.
From insight to action – this is how it works:
- Assessment Together we determine which energy flows you want to register: heat, gas, water, or electricity. We also look at the existing installation and measurement goals.
- Advice Based on your situation, we advise which meters, data loggers, and communication solutions best fit. Think of ultrasonic heat meters, water meters, or DIN rail kWh meters.
- Design We design a smart setup where everything is in place: from measurement point to connection with your EMS (Energy Management System) or dashboard.
- Procurement You receive the correct, certified components from specially selected companies.
- Installation Our specialists install the meters and ensure a neat finish and correct positioning (for example, at delivery sets, boilers, or distributors).
- Commissioning After installation, we test the system: does the data stream work? Are all values read correctly?
- Dashboarding You can see the consumption per room, department, or connection clearly displayed in a dashboard, with alerts, benchmarks, or reports.
- Data integration The data is linked via gateways or APIs, so you can analyze, report or use live data for alerts.
Why choose Imbema?
✓ Brand-independent: always the right solution
✓ Technically sound advice
✓ Project guidance from A to Z
✓ Integration with dashboards and EMS/BMS
✓ Experience in recreation, healthcare, VvEs, industry
✓ One-stop-shop: measuring, reading, and controlling
Our solutions for each energy flow
Heat & Cooling Meters
Engelmann, Sensus
Heat and cooling meters for reliable measurement of energy consumption in heating and cooling, applicable in both residential and industrial installations.
kWh meters
EMH, EMU, Apator
Digital kWh meters for accurate electricity registration in buildings and industry, with accessories for optimal protection and installation.
Water
Axioma, Sensus, Elis, Apator and Engelmann
Water meters in mechanical, electromagnetic, and ultrasonic variants for precise recording of water usage in various applications.
Gas
Apator, Fiorentini
Gas meters in bellows, rotary, and turbine designs, suitable for a wide range of applications: from low to high gas flows, always with precise measurement.
Modems and Gateways
Elvaco, SenseiAS
Data communication modules for reliable wireless transmission, available in LoRa, NB-IoT, and 4G/LTE for efficiency and cost savings.
Dataloggers
Plum
Dataloggers for water and gas record and analyze usage data, enabling efficiency improvements and early problem detection.
EVHIs
Plum
Electronic Volume Conversion Instruments (EVHIs) ensure accurate volume measurements under varying conditions, delivering consistent and reliable results.
Sensors
Elvaco, SenseiAS
Sensors for variables such as temperature, humidity, and CO², applicable in industry and building automation for optimal process and energy efficiency.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Intermediate metering is often required by laws and regulations regarding sustainability and reporting, such as the CSRD and ESG. It can also be mandated in lease agreements or by grid operators to ensure fair cost sharing.
Costs vary by meter type and installation. The investment can often be recouped within 2–5 years thanks to lower energy costs, more efficient usage, and fair billing.
Our submeters support a variety of protocols, including M-Bus, Modbus, LoRa, WM-Bus, and 4G/LTE, allowing data to be easily integrated into existing systems.
Yes, in many cases, intermediate meters can be integrated into existing installations. Imbema advises and delivers customized solutions to optimally complement your current infrastructure.
Our Communication Protocols
Our specialists
Paul-Jan Albersen
Specialist Sub-Metering
Netherlands
+31 (0)6 4409 9875
Ruben Van Laethem
Submetering Specialist
Belgium, Flanders
+32 (0)4 7230 0703
Bert Bleiksloot
Submetering Specialist
The Netherlands
+31 (0)6 5336 6429
Peter Geurds
Subdivision Metering Specialist
Netherlands
+31 6 224 10 054