Thermal Imaging Camera
27th November 2014
Thermal Imaging Camera
Councillor Andrea Cornwell
Sevenoaks District Council has offered Eynsford Parish Council the opportunity to borrow a thermal imaging camera for residents to use over the winter months. We have booked the camera from 1st to 14th December 2014 and from 2nd to 15th February 2015.
The camera, which is simple to use, can show you if there are any parts of your property that are radiating energy and therefore emitting heat. The energy efficiency of a building can be affected by any number of defects including poor insulation, poorly sealed windows and doors, plumbing leaks and other issues with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning installation.
In a thermal image, the colour displayed represents the heat emitted by an object. A colour towards the red end of the spectrum suggests that the object or area is emitting a higher than average temperature. A colour towards the blue end of the spectrum suggests the object is emitting a lower than average temperature.
The key to using this thermal image is to spot where you believe there to be preventable heat loss. For example, if a thermal image of a house shows a large amount of red (heat loss) on the windows, it may suggest they are not as efficient as they could be. Replacing the windows with more efficient double or triple glazing would reduce heat loss and therefore save the household money.
Other ways you can help to keep your home warmer this winter as mentioned in the Sunday Times are:
Having a thermal lining to curtains or wooden shutters, this may reduce heat loss as much as double glazing. Remember to close all curtains and shutters at dusk to prevent heat loss
Fit heat reflective panels behind radiators on external walls. This reduction of heat loss is detected by the thermal imaging camera as it can reduce heat loss by up to 60%. See www.warmroom.co.uk for more information.
- Clean out chimneys and block unused ones - these can be blocked with old jumpers or new felt products - see www.chimneysheep.co.uk
- Lag your pipes. If you have a loft make sure pipes in the loft are lagged. Lag central heating pipes under ground floor voids. These can lose 70% of their heat before they even reach your radiators.
- Get your boiler serviced now - don't wait until it breaks down.
Fit an insulated letterbox flap. Install a made to measure magnetic or stick on secondary glazing to glazed sections of the door (www.ecoease.co.uk)
You can also visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk. This site offers advice on all energy saving methods and provides lists of installers for insulation, windows etc. They also have a free advice line - 0300 123 1234 where calls are charged at a national rate.
Finally, this government publication also provides some advice on energy saving:
https://www.gov.uk/government/
To borrow the thermal imaging camera (for a day or half day, depending on demand) please contact the parish office on 01322 865320 or email eynsford.pc@tiscali.co.uk. A small deposit may be required, along with proof of identity & address. Please state your preferred day/s from the dates listed at the start of this article.
