Thermal People

The green stimulus plan allows for weatherization of homes for low-income families. Weatherization is the process of finding cost-effective ways to decrease energy loss in buildings and homes. The goals of weatherization are energy savings and lower utility bills. Obama's plan is to improve the efficiency of the nation's low-income housing. By having energy-efficient homes, families will pay less for utilities, resulting in decreased subsidies paid by the government. The economy will get a boost because both families and the government will have more money to spend, and the energy savings will contribute to a cleaner environment.

Thermal infrared cameras are some of the best energy tools available for weatherization. The RAZ-IR camera, a portable handheld infrared camera, is one of the most convenient because of its size and capabilities. RAZ-IR thermal infrared cameras measure the temperatures in a room and display them in a digital image on the camera's screen. The digital image uses various colors to depict the different temperatures in the room. Users can instantly tell where heat exchanges are taking place, indicating where there are leaks in the structure that are allowing heat to escape or enter the building. These thermal infrared cameras can pinpoint the inefficiencies of homes and help owners stop housing leaks.

The RAZ-IR thermal infrared camera is a good resource for detecting a number of energy-wasting leaks in a home or other building. Insufficient insulation, leaky windows and doors, drywall with improper caulking, and framing defects are a few of the construction faults that these infrared cameras can uncover. Homeowners can take the information provided by the cameras and plug energy leaks, saving up to 50% on their home energy bills.

Considering the high-tech energy solutions available today, using a thermal camera may almost seem too simple. Solar panels, thermal panels, and other expensive energy-saving alternatives have received a great deal of attention, but consulting firm McKinsey & Company does not believe they are necessarily the best alternatives. Their studies show that energy tools such as the RAZ-IR thermal infrared camera are more effective in reducing energy waste and are much less expensive over the long run. In short, infrared saves money, time, and fuel. It looks like the infrared vs. solar debate may soon end.

Instead of spending money on costly energy solutions, such as solar panels, thermal panels and other new energy conservation ideas, infrared cameras offer a way for homeowners to determine where they are losing precious energy and money. Homes in the United States are responsible for more than one-fifth of the country's energy usage, and about one-third of that energy is lost because of problems such as leaks. Homeowners could stop the loss of an estimated 30% of the energy they are currently wasting by plugging leaks in their homes. Thermal infrared cameras help homeowners discover exactly where they are losing energy in their homes rather than adding a solution that does not address the root of the problem.

Submitted by, Jim Delgado on 2009-03-16

• RAZ-IR Thermal Infrared Cameras
• Wal Street Journal, Solar vs Thermal
• Home Energy Audit Video