REAP has developed Grampian Thermal Surveys as a new social enterprise which will use thermal imaging technology to show where heat loss is most acute in buildings.

The thermal camera will allow individual homes and community buildings to identify heat loss and act as a stimulus for more energy efficient actions and a focus for where to site insulation. Combined with advice this will enable building owners to reduce their wasted energy.

Funding  through the Climate Challenge Fund will allow us to offer free thermal surveys to those in fuel poverty or on limited incomes. At the same time REAP will be offering the service on a commercial basis to other householders and businesses so that at the end of the grant period the project will be in a position to have an income stream to continue offering a free service to those in most need. There will be opportunities to expand the commercial side of the enterprise into Home Energy Certificates. Both the social and commercial aspects of the thermal imaging enterprise will be contributing directly to helping individuals reduce their fuel use and make their homes more energy efficient.

This work will be linked to a year long demonstration project for the town of Keith to raise awareness of climate change and put in place practical changes. This will be in the form of a Keith Carbon Challenge to see how much the CO² emissions in Keith can be reduced. This would be done through a combination of providing the thermal camera service free to community facilities, individual homes and streets.

The Keith Carbon Challenge would also allow practical training sessions on how to change lifestyles to reduce energy dependency and increase the community resilience. The aim of this work is to bring together all aspects of carbon reduction which REAP and package them together under one cohesive banner. The outcome of this will be a greater understanding of the issues by the whole community as well as individuals who are better equipped to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information on energy conservation and some interesting thermal images see this article in the March issue of National Geographic Magazine.

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