Fat’hollah Hosseini said that overcoming the gas imbalance requires a serious commitment to demand management. "The reality is that a significant share of the country's energy is wasted in buildings, and part of that waste can be prevented through simple, low-cost measures," he said.

He added: "For example, in the cold season many households simply close the metal vent of their evaporative cooler, yet cold air still enters the building through its gaps. Fully covering the vent with a suitable cover and sealing it can keep cold air out and prevent higher use of heating appliances. Likewise, during the hours of the day when indoor temperatures are not very low, the setting on the heater or boiler can be turned down."

Referring to a review of energy intensity in Iran, the Parliament Energy Committee member said that, unlike in many countries, energy consumption in Iran has risen over the past two decades. An important part of this, he noted, stems from aging heating and cooling equipment and failure to observe building energy-efficiency standards.

Stressing that high energy consumption is not confined to the wealthiest income deciles, Hosseini said: "In many buildings that lack proper insulation and modern equipment, energy intensity is high, and we must act to cut consumption by upgrading equipment and improving building standards."

He continued: "The public should be told that roughly a quarter of the country's gas capacity was damaged or lost in the Third Imposed War, and that to get through the conditions ahead we need conservation and demand management more than ever. The oil industry is making maximum use of all available capacity to produce and reliably supply fuel for the country this winter, but achieving these goals requires the full cooperation of the public in managing consumption."

The Parliament Energy Committee member added: "If indoor temperatures in homes and offices are set at 18 to 20 degrees Celsius, each one-degree reduction in room temperature can save about 25 million cubic meters of gas."