South Gloucestershire Council is hoping to enable residents to save money on their energy bills this winter by loaning out thermal imaging cameras to help identify areas of heat loss in their homes.
The scheme, available to South Gloucestershire library members, allows residents to borrow a thermal imaging camera from one of the region’s libraries for up to a week. The cameras are being supplied in partnership with Warm and Well, a service run by local charity Severn Wye that provides energy advice and advocacy as well as administering grant funding for fuel efficiency improvements.
Jacqui Harris, Project Manager at Severn Wye, said: “We’re really pleased to be supporting this scheme, which offers something different to lots of the energy efficiency support currently available. Using a thermal imaging camera will give residents an insight into how they can make their homes more energy efficient, but it will also empower them to look deeper into how they can make energy changes at home and hopefully get back a feeling of control during this energy crisis.”
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Scanning a home using a thermal camera is a quick process and can pinpoint areas that might benefit from draught-proofing, including doors, windows, letterboxes and external cables or plumbing fixtures. The cameras can also help spot hidden issues in your existing insulation, such as if cavity wall filler has sunk since it was installed or moved by a contractor and not put back correctly.
Launching the scheme, Councillor Rachael Hunt, cabinet member for communities at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We are one of the first authorities in the country to introduce these cameras to borrow from libraries, to help people reduce their energy use by identifying areas where they can take action. Not only will this save people money, but it will help reduce energy use and contribute towards the success of our climate emergency goals here in South Gloucestershire.”
Each of the cameras comes with a step-by-step guide that can be viewed in advance, and users will need a PC or laptop to transfer the photos using a cable provided. To borrow one of the thermal cameras, you need to be a library member.
The cameras can be reserved in advance on the LibrariesWest website or, if available, obtained via a walk-in visit to one of the region’s 12 main libraries or Chipping Sodbury Community Library. The website also lists which libraries have availability.
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