Now you can see the heat loss from your home or business
An aerial thermal imaging survey of parts of Shropshire is giving householders and business owners a better idea of how well their homes and premises are performing with regard to heat loss.
Commissioned by Shropshire Council and led by Marches Energy Agency (MEA), the flyover has produced a thermal map which can now be accessed on the Internet.
The map gives a heat loss rating for buildings ranging from poor to excellent.
The areas covered include: Bishop’s Castle, Bridgnorth, Church Stretton (including Little Stretton), Market Drayton, Oswestry, Shrewsbury (including Bayston Hill), and Wem.
Click on the link and take a look at your place: http://bit.ly/1V2X5S4.
Phil Newcombe, who is leading on the project for MEA, said:
“The aerial heat loss map is a great start point for thinking about how much energy you are using – you can even see how your house compares to others down your street.
“Using a specialist aircraft fitted with a thermal imaging camera the flights took place over the course of several evenings during November 2014, December 2014 and January 2015 when it was cold with low wind speeds. This gave us the best chance of taking measurements when properties were occupied and having the heating on, allowing us to measure the amount of heat ‘leaking’ out of the roofs.”
Mal Price, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for planning, housing, regulatory services and environment, said:
“The map allows residents living in these areas to see how much heat is being lost through their roofs. This data can help to find ways to increase home energy efficiency and so save money on fuel bills.”
Shropshire Council has appointed Marches Energy Agency to get out and about around the county during March 2016 and April 2016 to promote the map and to give advice about energy efficiency, home improvements and reducing energy costs.
MEA will be running a roadshow of events where people can view the map and talk about their energy concerns. Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to take away a free home energy monitor.
In addition MEA will be doing some targeted door knocking and leafletting to let people know about what support may be available for more vulnerable energy customers.
The events (all 10am to 2pm) are scheduled as follows:
Church Stretton | Outside the Coop | Thursday 10 March |
Shrewsbury | The Square | Thursday 17 March |
Market Drayton | Street Market | Wednesday 23 March |
Bishop’s Castle | Town Hall Market | Thursday 24 March |
Wem | Indoor Market Town Hall | Thursday 14 April |
Oswestry | Bailey Head Street Market | Saturday 16 April |
Bridgnorth | St. George’s Family Day, Castle Grounds, Bridgnorth. | Saturday 23 April |
For more information and any energy related queries please contact Phil Newcombe: E: phil@mea.org.uk T: 01743 277118.
If you have concerns about keeping warm, or any other energy-related enquiries, please contact the Warmer Marches service on 0800 112 3743.
Further information
Although every care has been taken to obtain accurate data, the survey can only ever be a snapshot of heat loss in Shropshire at the time of the survey. In particular, if a roof is made of a non-standard material, if solar panels have been fitted, if a home was unoccupied or unheated at the time of the survey, or if a home is kept at a temperature significantly above normal, then the survey results may not always correctly show the actual heat loss from your property.
