Details of the Scheme:
We have two thermal imaging cameras available for use by our Area East communities on a free lending-basis. These easy to use camera units connect directly to your smartphone or tablet (either Android or Apple) and will provide you with a thermal image of your home or building. The image can then be used to interrogate and identify potential improvements, such as requirements for insulation and draught proofing within your home to improve your energy efficiency, as well as to reduce heat loss and fuel bills.
We are initially trialling this scheme with our Area East communities this winter (Winter 2021/22), with a view to rolling the scheme out to all communities in October 2022. For a list of all eligible Area East communities, please see below.
If you live in Area East and would like to book one of our cameras, please contact us here.
List of Eligible Parishes
Initially the trial is available to our Area East communities, which include:
Abbas & Templecombe, Ansford, Babcary, Barton St David, Bratton Seymour, Brewham, Bruton, Cary Moor, Castle Cary, Charlton Horethorne, The Charltons, Chilton Cantelo, Compton Pauncefoot, Corton Denham, Cucklington, Henstridge, Horsington, Ilchester, Keinton Mandeville, Kingsdon, Kingweston, Limington, Marston Magna, Milborne Port, Mudford, North Cadbury & Yarlington, North Vale, Penselwood, Pitcombe, Queen Camel, Rimpton, Shepton Montague, South Cadbury & Sutton Montis, Sparkford, Stoke Trister, West Camel, Wincanton, Yeovilton, Charlton Musgrove.
What to do:
Once confirmed, we will provide you with the appropriate camera unit, along with a how to use guidance sheet. This will include links to CSE’s free home energy advice service offering further guidance after you’ve used the camera.
The scheme will be administered through the Bruton and Cary Retrofit Scheme.
Why use one? Carbon emissions and climate change implications:
Thermal images will show up where homes would benefit from improved insulation and draught proofing. Homes account for 22% of the UK carbon emissions and there needs to be an urgent application of energy efficiency improvements if we are going to hit the carbon reduction targets necessary to stop run away climate breakdown. Our aim is that using the thermal imaging cameras will help stimulate action for homeowners to improve their energy efficiency and therefore reduce carbon emissions.
Reducing Heat Loss and Energy Consumption
Once you have identified areas of heat-loss within your property, there are several ways that could help you reduce energy consumption and heat loss. These include:
Improving the insulation of the property, especially roof or wall insulation;
Reducing air leakage, for example around doors, windows, or letter-boxes; and
Reducing energy consumption by using efficient heating methods such as air or ground source heat pumps.
Although the above options may require professional inputs, there are also some simple (and cheap) DIY options:
use heat reflective aluminium foil behind the radiator to reduce heat loss;
use thick curtains, with a thermal lining, to reduce heat loss through the windows;
stop heat being lost up the chimney when not in use by using a chimney balloon or woollen chimney insulator (www.chimneysheep.co.uk); but remember to remove them before starting any fires!
watch out for mini-draughts, such as letterboxes or cat flaps – add an extra barrier in the form of a “brush”;
use draught excluders along the base of doors;
cover bare floors, which account for as much as 10% of heat loss if they’re not insulated; and
Insulate your house with DIY loft insulation and ensure the loft hatch is also insulated.
