Drumbeat releases white paper on use of infrared thermography to increase energy efficiency

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by Shane Henson — April 1, 2013—Drumbeat Energy Management, a new U.K.-based energy management business support service, recently published Understanding Infrared Thermography: The Role of Thermography in Detecting Energy Inefficiency for property managers and owners.

The white paper explores the pros and cons of thermography in detecting energy inefficiency in buildings and how the technology is revolutionizing energy-efficiency assessments in the three areas that matter most—speed, accuracy and cost.

As Drumbeat explains, thermography works by measuring a building’s surface temperature using non-contact infrared cameras. The thermal images produced display regions of varying temperatures in different colors, thus allowing building owners and managers to see exactly where they are losing heat and, as a result, money. Heat sensed by an infrared camera can be quantified allowing for evaluation of the severity of the problems.

The technology is most commonly used to identify missing or damaged insulation, thermal bridges and areas at risk from mold and condensation. The information provided by the images is enough to accurately identify the key areas a property owner or manager must address to improve energy efficiency, be it draft proofing or replacing doors and windows, or the installation of insulation in cavity walls, solid walls or lofts.

So just how big a role does thermography have to play in the U.K.’s quest for energy efficiency?

“In light of the April 2018 deadline of the U.K. Energy Act, more and more property owners are assessing the technology’s benefits and drawbacks in their search for an innovative ‘game changer’ capable of helping them approach the future with confidence,” says Drumbeat Energy’s Managing Director Graham Mills. “The increased nationwide focus on energy efficiency has prompted an inevitable boom in technology for the ‘green market.’ While many of the services in this crowded arena promise much but offer little, infrared thermography is one area that’s seen a significant increase in popularity in recent years, with projects ranging from large-scale commercial developments to single domestic dwellings.”