Reduce Carbon

Reducing carbon is the Eco Hub’s mission, detecting and enabling ways to be part of the change to take us to zero carbon by 2050. Offering some practical measures, equipment and services. 

Equipment Available – Thermal Imaging Camera

Eco Hub Aber has invested in 2 thermal imaging cameras which attach to your mobile phone. They are ideal for identifying signs of heat and energy loss around the home – such as poor insulation, drafts, gaps in cavity walls or inefficient appliances – the camera will provide a visual picture of where you are losing energy. Fixing these issues early can really help to lower your energy bills.

The FLIR ONE Thermal Camera for iOS. Enables you to explore your world in a whole enhanced way. It connects to the lightning port of your iphone and once you have downloaded the free app it’s easy to share the thermal images and videos on social media. It allows you to see and measure temperature differences accurately and from a safe distance. Perfect for basic heating inspections and damp detection. Exclusive MSX technology blends thermal and visible spectrum for more detail and enhanced resolution because two cameras are better than one.

We also have the PerfectPrime IR202, (IR) Infrared Thermal Imager Camera 4800 Pixels, -40~752°F, 15Hz USB Type C interface for Android Connection for detecting a temperature range (-40°C to 400°C) also with the Free Mobile Application Download for Android OS. We also have a micro usb connector.

These Thermal imagers are ideal for detecting heat energy. They work by measuring the infrared radiation emanating from objects (their heat signature). The normal camera forms an image using visible light (400-700 nanometer (nm) range, whereas infrared uses the invisible band (1,000nm) which lies between visible and microwave frequencies on the electromagnetic spectrum. When the thermal camera is pointed at an object or area, the sensor allows the user to view the otherwise invisible infrared spectrum. The sensor array is constructed as a grid of pixels. Each of these reacts to the infrared wavelengths hitting it by converting them into an electronic signal then converted, using algorithms into a colour map of temperature values. The warmer objects or regions will show up as reds, oranges and yellows, while cooler parts will be purples and blues. Green indicates areas that are roughly room temperature. Because they measure infrared radiation, and not visible light, thermal cameras are also useful for identifying heat sources in very dark or otherwise obscured environment.

As you point the camera at a wall or solid object it will register the heat being radiated outwards from that surface. They tend to work better at night, but it has nothing to do with the state of the surrounding environment being light or dark but because objects are a lower temperature at night so the thermal imaging sensors are able to display warm areas at a higher contrast. Even on relatively cool days, heat energy from the sun will be gradually absorbed by buildings. There is a sharper contrast even a few hours after full daylight hours.

The infrared sensors can’t ‘see’ through any significant depth of water, because the waves it detects don’t pass through water easily. The same as you won’t get an accurate reading through glass although certain types such as the car windscreen will give more accurate readings than household glazing. It tends to acts more like a mirror for infrared wavelengths.