The Customer:
Leicester City Council
The Project:
Leicester City Council required a thermal mapping service to assist the Council’s ‘Hot Lofts’ insulation scheme. They needed maps to help target energy inefficiency and reduce carbon emissions in residential properties across the city. The scheme, a partnership between the Council and British Gas, aims to deliver free loft and cavity wall insulation for all private homes, regardless of income, on a rolling programme.
The Solution:
Bluesky provided an end to end thermal data solution, including a cost effective airborne survey service measuring building roof heat loss levels across an entire city in just one evening, plus a bespoke thermal mapping service creating intelligent energy consumption to support the schemes.
Bluesky completed the aerial flyover in March 2010 using a new generation thermal survey system. Specifically designed for the geospatial market the system includes a state of the art thermal survey camera, advanced navigation and positioning system and improved sensor control and user interface.
Using the Bluesky colour-coded and property-matched map the Council identified properties most in need of assistance and wrote to them with the details of the scheme. To date the project has helped nearly 6,300 properties reduce their energy consumption contributing to a reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 6,000 Tonnes per annum – an estimated annual energy saving of more than 32,700 Gigawatt hours (gas).
Integration of the resulting data into the Council’s Geographical Information System (GIS) enabled the property level thermal data to be compared with other mapping layers such as locations of public buildings and social housing. The thermal imagery was matched to Ordnance Survey maps and Council Local Land and Property Gazetteers to reveal property ‘hot spots’ using a colour coded temperature map. This allows the effective targeting of heat conservation initiatives and resources.
The Feedback:
“Our last thermal fly over was back in 2005. Since then technology has moved on significantly and the level of detail Bluesky are able to offer will further enhance the identification and targeting of qualifying properties. With the update we will also be able to chart our progress over the past five years and take the project to the next level identifying Council properties and working with strategic partners such as businesses, the University, Hospital and Emergency Services.” Nick Morris, Head of Energy Services, Leicester City Council
The Duration:
2010