ALMOST 100 people have signed up to be part of a low carbon group’s thermal imaging campaign.

Rose Hill and Iffley Low Carbon Group are taking pictures of residents’ homes for two weeks from yesterday with a special thermal imaging device, to find out how energy efficient they are.

The photos will reveal where heat is escaping from homes and wasting energy.

Participants will be invited to a meeting at 2.30pm on February 15 at Rose Hill and Donnington Advice Centre in Ashhurst Way to discuss the findings and be offered advice on keeping heat in the home.

Group member Paul Skinner, from Rose Hill, said he thinks the huge response is because of people’s concerns about energy price rises.

He said: “The response has been much better than we expected.

“We will be working quite hard over the next couple of weeks.

“People realise more and more that reducing energy use is good for their own finances as well as being a good thing to be doing in terms of reducing our carbon footprint.”

Residents who are having the pictures taken need to make sure they have the heating on when the group comes to take the photo.

The heating needs to have been on for a few hours before they arrive.

Mr Skinner added: “We will be going to the houses and taking a thermal image of the front of the house and maybe the back if they request us to.

“Then we will let people have the image we have taken and we are offering a follow up meeting for everyone involved to come along and help them to understand what the image shows and also to talk with a couple of people knowledgeable in the field.

“The main thing is to get people thinking about their energy use.”

Community Action Groups Oxfordshire has provided the camera for the campaign.

HOW TO INSULATE YOUR HOME

The Energy Saving Trust recommends having at least 270mm of loft insulation. Up to £180 a year could be saved by installing loft insulation.
For homes built after 1920, it is likely that the external walls are made of two layers of brick with a gap or cavity between them and cavity wall insulation fills that gap.
The average installation cost is between £450 and £500, but it can save residents up to £140 a year.
Draught-proofing doors and windows, sealing skirting boards with silicone sealant and fitting a chimney draught excluder could save £55 a year.
The Government runs The Warm Home Discount scheme where eligible residents could get a £135 discount on their electricity bill.
Visit gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme for more information.