---
source_url: "https://coolautomation.com/case-study/tel-aviv-university-solving-hvac-billing-challenge/"
title: Solving TLV University’s Proportional HVAC Billing Challenge
mirrored_at: 2026-08-16T03:38:07.822Z
host: coolautomation.com
cited_in_42a: true
mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/coolautomation.com/case-study/tel-aviv-university-solving-hvac-billing-challenge/index"
---

> **Original source:** https://coolautomation.com/case-study/tel-aviv-university-solving-hvac-billing-challenge/

The Customer

![](https://coolautomation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Broshim.png)

**The Customer**: Shikun & Binui Infrastructure and Real Estate

**HVAC System:** Multiple Hitachi VRF systems

**Solutions**

1

Devices: CloudBox Gateways

2

Cloud-Based Solutions: Predictive Maintenance Suite

Tel-Aviv University is a globally recognized academic institution with over 30,000 students. The University’s Broshim Dorms, also known as the Millie Phillips Student City, is a 60,000-square-meter complex comprising eight high-rise dormitory buildings interconnected by retail spaces. The complex houses over 1,700 students and faculty members.

The Challenge

With 1,300 dorm rooms serviced by multiple VRF systems, accurate electricity billing was a challenge from the get-go. Extrapolating the specific energy use of units from systems’ general consumption is a complex task, with many organizations choosing to simply divide the total consumption by the number of units, billing tenants for average electrical usage rather than actual consumption. This often results in tenant disputes and dissatisfaction.  
  
Following the dormitories’ construction, project developers Shikun & Binui chose a proprietary HVAC manufacturer power proportional distribution (PPD) solution offered by a local distributor, which helped resolve these concerns and allow for more accurate billing. Unfortunately, the local distributor ceased operations several years later, and the HVAC manufacturer chose to discontinue its presence within the country. 

Consequently, the University could no longer accurately bill dorm tenants based on actual consumption. This is because the PPD solutions offered by HVAC manufacturers can only be used with their own systems.

The Solution

In a bid to continue accurately billing tenants, Shikun & Binui opted for CoolAutomation’s VRF PPD solution, which boasts universal support of all major HVAC system brands. Upon request, CoolAutomation provided the dorms with its smart edge devices, which were duly linked to its existing HVAC systems.

Using these devices, all HVAC systems were connected to CoolAutomation’s advanced [VRF Power Distribution cloud-based application](https://coolautomation.com/products/coolautomation-power-distribution-capd-solution/). Leveraging a unique algorithm that accurately calculates the actual operational ratio and kWh of each HVAC indoor unit, the application ensures accurate billing of tenants within the complex.

![The Power of Precision: Solving Tel Aviv University’s Proportional HVAC Billing Challenge](https://coolautomation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Image-1.jpg "The Power of Precision: Solving Tel Aviv University’s Proportional HVAC Billing Challenge")

Traditional Course of Action

With no access to a proprietary PPD solution, the university faced two conventional alternatives:

1

Replacing all of the dorm’s HVAC systems with those of another manufacturer that still operates in Israel and offers a PPD solution. The significance - incurring the enormous costs associated with purchasing and installing new HVAC systems in the entire complex.

2

Keeping the existing HVAC setup without a PPD solution. The result: Energy consumption is evenly divided by the rooms each HVAC system services, and tenants are billed accordingly. This opens the university to disputes with tenants who are not billed based on their actual power usage and may find the discrepancy unacceptable.

The CoolAutomation Way

1

Purchasing and installing CoolAutomation’s HVAC gateways

2

Connecting to CoolAutomation’s smart VRF cloud-based power distribution application.

3

Billing tenants according to the power consumption of their indoor VRF units.

Benefits

![benefits](https://coolautomation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Compliance-with-Energy-Regulations-1.png "benefits")

Accurate, tenant-specific billing

![benefits](https://coolautomation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Usage-Statistics.png "benefits")

Flexible HVAC system growth

![benefits](https://coolautomation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Efficient-Maintenance.png "benefits")

Remote access to consumption data from any web browser

![benefits](https://coolautomation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Compliance-with-Energy-Regulations-2.png "benefits")

Automatic, customizable periodic reports

![benefits](https://coolautomation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Component-Lifespan.png "benefits")

Graphic tool for review and analysis of historic power consumption  

![Download the Case Study](https://coolautomation.com/wp-content/themes/cool/images/device_db.svg "Download the Case Study")

Learn more about

Download the Case Study