Patent ID: 7831525

Claim:
A method comprising: measuring at least two temperature values of at least two positions within a partition between adjoining building units, the at least two positions located at different distances from a surface of the partition within at least one of the adjoining building units; processing the at least two temperature values using at least one of a linear equation, a polynomial equation, and a gradient equation; extrapolating a thermal energy transfer from the processed at least two temperature values; measuring actual energy consumption in each of the adjoining building units; and calculating, via a computer, an energy compensation for each of the adjoining building units based upon the extrapolated thermal energy transfer between the adjoining building units and the measured actual energy consumption in each of the adjoining building units, where calculating the energy compensation for each of the adjoining building units further comprises: determining an expected energy consumption for each of the adjoining building units based upon at least one of a volume of each of the adjoining building units, historical thermostat setting information for each of the adjoining building units, historical energy consumption for each of the adjoining building units, and historical environmental temperature data in an area of the adjoining building units; calculating a difference in the measured actual energy consumption for each of the adjoining building units relative to the expected energy consumption for each of the adjoining building units; adjusting the calculated energy compensation based upon the calculated difference; and sending the adjusted calculated energy compensation for each of the adjoining building units to a utility server for billing adjustment.