Thermal cameras to help with heat loss are being trialled in East Cambridgeshire as part of a new energy and cost-saving initiative launched by East Cambridgeshire District Council (ECDC). 

ECDC has purchased three thermal imaging cameras which residents in Witchford can use to understand where heat is escaping in their homes.  

The cameras produce heat maps of properties, with the easy-to-use camera quickly showing residents areas where there are draughts, poor insulation, heating system problems, or other reasons for wasted heat from homes. 

Residents in Witchford are the first to be offered the opportunity to trial the new initiative and are being encouraged to register their interest in the scheme by emailing witchford.climate@gmail.com or visiting wcag.org.uk. 

Throughout December, volunteers from Witchford Climate Action Group will manage the trial scheme, visiting those households that have signed up. 

They will then work with residents to identify where the biggest heat losses are and suggest potential measure that could be taken to address them, helping to improve comfort, cut energy bills and reduce carbon emissions. 

Chair of ECDC’s operational services committee, Cllr Julia Huffer, said: “East Cambridgeshire District Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and since then has been exploring a range of initiatives to help the council, and local residents make positive changed that will benefit the planet. 

“Homes count for 22 per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions and we know that here in East Cambridgeshire we have a relatively high number of older properties which leak heat. 

“These cameras are a great way of helping people visualise where there is greatest heat loss in their homes, and, with the help of volunteers at the Witchford Climate Action Group we can then work with them to identify what measures can be taken.” 

Cameras can usually be used between November and the end of March where there is around 10 degrees difference in temperature between the outside and the inside. 

Ideally, there should also be no direct sun, rain or strong winds so the camera can show heat loss effectively. 

One of the volunteers who will be carrying out the surveys, Katy Baker, said: “We’re delighted to be working with ECDC on this latest initiative which we see as being a really practical way to help residents not only cut carbon, but stay warm and reduce their energy bills too.” 

Once you have identified areas of heat-loss within your property, Cambridge Carbon Footprint recommends several ways you can reduce energy consumption and heat loss. 

These include: 

  • Improving the insulation of the property, especially roof and wall insulation 
  • Reducing air leakage, for example around doors, windows, or letter-boxes 
  • Reducing energy consumption by using efficient heating methods such as air or ground source heat pumps 
  • 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; 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 doors, which account for as much as 10 per cent of heat loss if they’re not insulated 
  • Insulate your house with DIY loft insulation and ensure the loft hatch is also insulated

Other ways to reduce your energy consumption include using appliances less, using LED lighting, controlling your heating, lagging hot water tanks and water pipes, turn off electrical items at the wall and when replacing appliances make sure to look at the energy ratings. 

The council hopes to offer other parish, town councils or community groups the opportunity to use the cameras in other locations across the district early in the New Year – more details will be available on ECDC’s website soon.