We introduced Energy Tracers in a newsletter during 2013. Then on September 25th 2013 Brian Harper and Tony Winlow spoke at our energy efficiency evening explaining the concept in great detail.

In brief, a thermographic survey can help a householder to understand the thermal performance of their home. It can reveal the unseen loss of heat through the structure and pin point air leakage where cold air enters as well as where heat escapes. Householders can then act on a survey's findings to improve their comfort, reduce their energy bills and lower their carbon footprint.

Over the long weekend period of 21-24th February Energy tracers are planning to do thermographic surveys of sixteen homes in and around Crediton. There will be four groups of four homes. Each group has a hot spotter, a person who will assist the Energy Tracer team by chauffeuring the surveyor between homes, provide simple, practical help during the surveys, and collect the energy packs (left at each surveyed home) after four weeks.

A DVD with commentary is burnt for the householder at the end of the survey. An energy monitoring action pack is installed and left with the household for a month. This allows the  monitoring of electricity, gas and water consumption. The pack also includes a 'maximum savings' manual with advice on energy efficiency measures, such as draught proofing and secondary glazing and includes contacts for home energy improvement work and help with energy efficiency, environmental awareness and energy monitoring. There is advice on behaviour change towards energy consumption too. All this for only £60 , a cost which should be returned several fold once simple improvements are made.

We will report back on how the surveys went in next month's newsletter.