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Energy Conservation

Made Easier with Infrared Thermography

Following the introduction of the government energy strategy in 2006 energy conservation became a focus for ordinary people as well as industry trying to find many more ways to save energy. Going hand in hand with a reduction of energy losses is a reduction in energy cost which means facility managers of both commercial and residential properties are under pressure to cut the losses. Legislation in place is based on the target laid down in the Kyoto protocol from 1997 which aims to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. The European Union passed legislation covering the increase in energy efficiency of buildings (2002/91/EG). In the UK the first phase of this legislation came into effect in April 2006 supported financially by the Low Carbon Building programme for example and the second phase is now running under the supervision of the Building Research Establishment (BRE). Legislation is one thing but you then have the problem of identifying buildings that are performing badly from an energy efficiency point of view. In countries with a history of reducing energy consumption infrared thermography has been long established as an effective and efficient method of doing this. The technology is based on the physical phenomenon that objects with a temperature above absolute zero (0.0 K or – 273.15 °C) emit electromagnetic radiation. By determining the intensity of this radiation the surface temperature of the emitting object can be calculated. Problematic areas on a building like poor insulation, air leakage and areas of damp but also problems with electrical installations can be quickly and easily identified using a thermographic camera (see images 1-4). Img. 1 Image of a house having insulation problems taken with a camera resolution of 1,280 x 960 infrared pixels Img. 2 n.n. leakage Img. 3 n.n. Switchboard Img. 4 n.n. mould

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