HEAT is an independent consulting firm that operates in the field of energy conservation and environmental protection, for International Environmental Convention Programmes and household and informal sectors in developing countries. Comprising engineers, geographers and social scientists, HEAT was founded by Juergen Usinger, a former staff member of GTZ (German Technical Cooperation), in 1992. Since then, the company has been committed to sustainable development, especially by carrying out projects in the fields of combating global warming and protecting the ozone layer, energy conservation and environmental protection for household and informal sectors in developing countries.

HEAT's name reflects its attitude towards sustainable development: Habitat: arranging food, water, shelter or cover, and space suitable for a human being's needs; Energy: in the shape of biomass, water, electricity or human power, energy determines the well-being of people to a large extent; Application & Technology: adapting technology to a particular eco-system, utilising energy and human power in the most efficient and compatible manner to sustain and improve the quality of human life.