That we need to reduce carbon emissions is a truth near universally acknowledged. The drive to get Britain greener has hit the mainstream, with proactive initiatives being launched at both governmental and grass root levels. As householders conscientiously stock up energy-saving light bulbs, the government passes legislation to reduce carbon emissions within both domestic and corporate spheres.
The introduction of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is one such proactive governmental carbon reducing initiative. Since October 2008 all properties - homes, commercial and public buildings - when bought, sold, built or rented - need an EPC. The EPC allocates each property with an energy efficiency rating of A-G - ‘A’ being the most efficient. Display Energy Certificates (DECs) – the modern day equivalent of a scarlet letter – display information about the actual energy usage of a given building and are now required for most public buildings. We might hope that naming and shaming the worst offenders through the DEC would be enough to spur a change in energy usage. However, as 1 in 3 government buildings still have a G rating on their EPC, just how effective is this paperwork in bringing about actual reductions in carbon emissions?
It seems to me that while the government is eminently capable of producing legislation on the subject of reducing carbon emissions - be it through guidelines, targets or reports – we lack a dynamic, clear programme of activity to bring about results. When we know that a building is inefficient, what we do next? How do we assess where C02 loss is occurring in the building? How do we take steps to combat this loss? Distributing reams of – undoubtedly well intentioned – guidance will arguably just complicate the issue. To progress our carbon reduction programme we need to start with a clear picture.
Thermal imaging can provide just this kind of clarity. In fact, thermal imaging is the only way to gain a complete picture of the levels of heat loss from a building. There are times when ‘hotspots’ are easily identifiable, such as a gap between the wall and the roof. But what about the hidden, underlying problems? Thermal imaging can graphically audit the condition of the entire building envelope, allowing for truly informed decisions. Not only can the images show where the energy loss is occurring, but also where the problems are at their worst. As such, thermal imaging allows you to prioritise the work that takes place leading to faster savings.
New developments in the sector, pioneered by IRT mean that for the first time there is an assessment tool available that can provide qualified CO2 loss and calculate the financial implications of this loss, all from an infrared image. This invaluable tool clearly demonstrates how much money is being pumped out unnecessarily through roofs, walls and windows. The analysis is also so quick that for the first time it is now physically possible to survey and analyse every school, hospital, office block in the country, with obvious implications for the Government’s environmental targets. IRT has in fact, been working with Housing Authorities and County Councils on just such projects; surveying whole communities and assessing their energy efficiency.
It seems to me that in bringing C02 loss to light – embalming it in colour coded images - new thermal imaging analysis technology provides a really clear point of departure for those endeavouring to increase their energy efficiency. In setting down financial implications of C02 loss in black and white, we provide a very practical incentive for kickstarting steps to reduce this loss. It is perhaps too easy to speculate that a picture tells a thousand words, but ultimately, what would galvanise you to reduce your emissions, a picture or a raft of dense written material? What we need to do to move forward in the quest to reduce UK carbon emissions and meet governmental targets is to roll out technologies that make sense to the general public, that speak to them and inspire them to make a change. Thermal imaging is the technology to take the UK forward, reduce carbon emissions and get Britain greener.