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Thermal Camera Loan Scheme

Change in management and support

Forest Community Energy is pleased and proud to announce that we have taken over the management/day-to-day running of the Thermal Camera Loan Scheme, originally set up and run by Forest of Dean District Council (FoDDC).

There will be no immediate changes to the way the scheme currently operates, other than who you should contact (i) about the running of the scheme itself, or (ii) about getting advice based on the information obtained by using the cameras.

Scheme overview  

The aim of this scheme remains to help homeowners assess the thermal efficiency of their homes by highlighting areas in their property that could benefit from improved insulation or more complex retrofitting.  

The project uses thermal infrared cameras to help quickly spot where heat is escaping or entering a property, identifying areas that would benefit from energy-efficient upgrades.

These improvements could help to make homes more energy efficient, lower energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.

"I am realising how draughty my window frames and windows are. This is a great service!" - feedback from a Thermal Camera Loan participant (Post-Loan Survey).

Free to borrow, easy to use

Scheme details

The scheme uses FLIR thermal cameras, which can be loaned out free of charge for the period of one week from various locations across the district, using the contact details below:

Gloucestershire Libraries

  • Coleford Library
  • Cinderford Library
  • Newent Library
  • Lydney Library 

Please note: you must be a library member to borrow a camera through Gloucestershire Libraries. It is free to join, and you can apply online at https://gloslibraries.uk/join-us-become-library-member, or visit any local Gloucestershire library branch to apply in person.

Town and Parish Councils

Thermal imaging benefits

Thermal imaging is a way to help see where heat is being lost in your home through:

Photo from Warm & Well
  • Draughts around windows and doors
  • Broken or poor-quality door and window seals
  • Missing or poorly installed patches of cavity wall insulation
  • Poorly insulated windows (usually single glazed).

The images captured by the FLIR thermal cameras used on the scheme can help you to easily and quickly identify where your home could benefit from energy-efficient upgrades, helping you make an informed decision on how to improve the efficiency of your home.

This could be something as simple as adding thick curtains and draught excluders, or something more complex such as adding insulation and energy-efficient windows and doors.

The FLIR thermal cameras work best in colder weather when there's a 10°C temperature difference between indoors and outdoors, and draughts are easier to spot.

Additional support

The FLIR thermal camera will provide basic information on hot/cold spots to get you thinking about what changes you could make to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

FoDDC provides home energy efficiency upgrade advice and support. They can help to advise what options are available to remedy issues that the cameras have highlighted. They can also help/advise how the information garnered from the cameras can be used to create a full picture of how best to retrofit your home to make it more energy-efficient, cut down on carbon emissions, and improve your day-to-day comfort, etc. For this, you should go to the following site:

Home energy efficiency upgrade advice and support - Forest of Dean District Council

If you require technical support, i.e., help with how the cameras are used, assistance with understanding what the images are showing, etc., rather than retrofit advice, you can email the FCE team.

Email: thermalcamera@forestcommunityenergy.org.uk.

Additional information

The Thermal Camera Loan Scheme is run in partnership with Forest of Dean District Council and South West Net Zero Hub.

This project has received funding, via the AURORA Project, from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101036418.  

The programme supports research and innovation. The goal of this EU-funded programme is to ensure Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in delivering innovation. As a research and innovation-based programme, it is possible for organisations from the UK to be partners.   

Find out more here: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101036418