[butteroverflow]

Yeah, they've been talking about implementing something like that for as long as I can remember. The current system wastes so much heat that it's always 10-15°C warmer in the city than outside its borders.

I mean, how much coal do you have to burn to warm the air outside by 10-15°C?

I am from an ex-Soviet city too, by the way.

[fri_sch]

I think whoever is responsible for such a waste of resources should be held accountable for severe damage to the environment and the climate system.

[gambiting]

By whom? They are given a job to provide heat for the city - and they are doing so. The people telling them to do that job are probably also the same people unwilling to schedule any budget to upgrade the system so make it more efficient.

[C1sc0cat]

They are long retired or dead by now

[Gravityloss]

Thermostats have been around for a hundred years or so. Could solve the problem...

What I've heard is that some portion of pension is given as free heating. So it makes no sense for the individual to conserve it. Giving it as money and then billing for the heating could create some other problems too.