Aydın Tiryaki (2026)

The “cubic meter” unit we see on our natural gas bills doesn’t actually represent the true amount of energy we consume. From an engineering perspective, the current system is no different from measuring with a ruler that changes its length. So, as consumers, why should we demand to buy natural gas by mass—in kilograms—rather than by volume?

Why is volume misleading?

The traditional meters in our homes only record the volume (cubic meters) of gas passing through the device. However, natural gas is a compressible fluid, and its volume is highly variable. The famous P.V = n.R.T equation tells us that when the pressure (P) and temperature (T) of a gas change, its volume (V) also changes, but the actual amount of matter (n) remains the same.

In winter, gas contracts as it cools; in summer, it expands. Similarly, due to those well-known pressure differences between the ground floor and the top floor of an apartment building, the number of molecules purchased by a resident on the lower floor is not the same as that of a resident on the upper floor, even if both meters show the same cubic meter reading. We don’t burn volume to stay warm; we burn those molecules. Currently, everyone pays the same bill but purchases different amounts of energy.

Kilogram: The unvarying standard

If we could buy natural gas by the kilogram, the actual amount of product we purchase would never change, regardless of the pressure, how much the pipe diameter narrows, or how cold the weather gets. The energy content (calorific value) of one kilogram of natural gas is fixed. Mass is independent of gravity, altitude, and pressure. Demanding this transition is a matter of fundamental consumer rights and commercial justice.

Technology is now small enough for our homes

The question of “how will we weigh gas?” is a thing of the past. In the past, mass measurement devices (like Coriolis meters) were too expensive and massive to be used anywhere but in large industrial plants. Today, however, thanks to silicon-based micro-thermal sensors, molecular counting has been scaled down to the size of a residential meter. These new-generation digital sensors can measure the “number of molecules”—the mass—directly, without being affected by pressure or temperature.

An end to complex calculations

Today, we have to trust formulas like the “Correction Factor” or “K-Factor” at the bottom of our bills, which are nearly impossible for an average consumer to understand. Distribution companies perform these calculations by assuming pressure is “constant.” However, once we start buying by the kilogram, these estimates and assumptions will no longer be necessary. We will see exactly how many kilograms of gas we have consumed on our digital screens and know precisely what we are paying for.

Conclusion: Accurate measurement, fair trade

Buying natural gas by the kilogram is a requirement of both engineering ethics and consumer rights. To measure is to tell the truth; but measuring in kilograms tells the truest and fairest story of natural gas. In the smart cities of the future, instead of paying bills based on “approximate” calculations, we should engage in fair energy trade based on kilograms.

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A Note on Methods and Tools: All observations, ideas, and solution proposals in this study are the author’s own. AI was utilized as an information source for researching and compiling relevant topics strictly based on the author’s inquiries, requests, and directions; additionally, it provided writing assistance during the drafting process. (The research-based compilation and English writing process of this text were supported by AI as a specialized assistant.)