Today, thermal imaging has become an important inspection tool for identifying heat loss, energy leaks and underlying factors that are critical to the energy usage in a commercial building or home. This white paper reviews fundamentals of an energy audit, the different types of infrared cameras that can be used in energy audits, the use of a blower door to improve infrared inspections, thermal behavior of windows and reporting. Because of rising energy costs, there is a renewed focus on energy conservation throughout the world. The impact of these higher costs on the economy, the effects of green house gas emissions on the environment and the impact of escalating utility bills on businesses and households has created a serious interest in performing energy audits as a self-inspection as well as a potential business opportunity for progressive contractors. Clearly, even a limited plan of attack on energy waste has the potential to save billions in energy costs. As an example of the energy losses that can occur in a building, the accompanying diagram of a home (below) shows that 40% of home energy losses occur through the ceilings, with 25% through walls, 15% through windows and 10% through floors and 10% through drafts (such as unblocked chimneys, windows and doors).

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It is well known that thermal imaging is an easy to apply and easy to interpret inspection tool that can be used in a host of building envelope applications including home and commercial building energy audits, remediation (post flooding or other storm damage clean up), commercial roofing inspection and electrical/mechanical maintenance programs.  While available for over 30 years, today thermal imaging infrared cameras are less expensive and more rugged than previous models, enabling contractors to add this powerful technology to their toolbox. Coincidentally, the conditions for offering energy audits and moisture detection services have improved due to renewed attention on energy efficiency and health and liability concerns over mold in buildings.

While thermal imaging helps assure that a building is sealed properly to reduce energy loss, the building inspector must also remember that air is needed for proper combustion, dilution, and ventilation. The fact is that fixing problems of energy loss through the building envelope can cause a host of new problems. Although finding and fixing thermal bypasses and air leaks may seem like the right thing to do, it can have deadly consequences if the combustion equipment in the building is not accounted for and tested prior to, during, and after repairs are made. So, if you build or seal a building tight you must ventilate right for safe combustion.

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