Describes a novel approach to the heating and provision of hot water in multi-occupancy buildings from central gas boilers based on thermal energy technology. States the new concept tackles the main problems associated with conventional provision of heating and hot water, notably the high cost of heat metering and the magnitude of the distribution heat losses. The basis of the concept is the use of integrated thermal energy stores in each individual dwelling and buffer stores charged by a central boiler plant. Effectively the whole system is split into three independent constituents - the individual apartment, the boiler/buffer store circuit and the distribution network. States the benefits are primarily cheaper heat apportionment, diminished distribution losses, lower capital cost and a new flexibility in system design.

KEYWORDS: Domestic, hot water supply, flats, gas fired boilers, space heating, gas heating, energy storage.