In 2022 Walmer Town Council began the Thermal Imaging Camera scheme, a campaign dedicated to helping the population of Walmer with the rising costs of heating bills. Using a Forward Looking Infra-Red Camera, council officers would be able to take images of a residence and to identify and if possible, show the owners what preventative measures could be taken to prevent continuing heat loss within the residences.
To do so, a council officer will make an appointment with the residents in order to take the pictures requested, by necessity this requires a higher than usual internal temperature and closed windows. It will also require a cooler outside temperature and minimal effect from the weather, meaning that appointments will usually be when the sun has set and during colder winter days. Starting at approximately 4:30pm on weekdays.
The officer will take infra-red pictures of residences before analysing and cataloguing them once taken, this includes all windows, doors and where requested, outside areas and internal spaces. Other data will also be catalogued including the types of building and the outside temperatures. Once completed the officer will inform the owners or residents of the building as to their findings. This will then be sent via email; a copy will also be kept within council archives.
Appointments for the Infra-Red Camera are available to anyone living in Walmer, split into one of three areas in Walmer.
- Lower Walmer
- Middle Walmer
- Upper Walmer
Thanks to the scheme numerous residences have found where heat loss is most pronounced and so can begin repairs and improvements to their windows, doors, walls, roofs and internal spaces. The largest number of those that need substantial improvements are mostly older houses within the town, unfortunately a number of these are within local conservation areas meaning that there is less that can be done compared to newer builds. Others are council or private landlord owned residences that will require changes to be made by the owners.
Since the start of the scheme, we have also had interactions with other local councils regarding our work, this includes Deal, Sandwich, Vigo and Faversham. Thanks to this contact with other councils, we know that several have begun their own schemes. It is our hope that with further schemes being created throughout the country that there will be more chances for the public to have a chance to have a thermal scan of their homes, it is also hoped that as more councils are made aware of the scheme that they will look into creating their own.
The Thermal Camera Scheme will continue serving the people of Walmer, with numerous new housing estates, single residences and conversions being built, the need for a Thermal Camera will likely increase over time. As more older houses are either bought up by new owners or modified to allow for more residents, many will inevitably require increased changes to prevent heat loss in the winter months.
Walmer Town Council is also looking into working with Dover District Council regarding their own buildings, namely council housing and flats to ensure they are in good condition and that heat loss is at a minimum in these residences.
Thermal Camera appointments will be available between Tuesday 1st December 2026 and Friday 12th March 2027. These will be limited to fifteen to twenty-minute appointments and will require the residence to be within the limits of Walmer.
How to reduce heat loss in your home.
Heat loss is one of the biggest reasons for the increase in heating bills, in the average house a lot of heat is wasted because it escapes through poorly fitting doors, windows, keyholes, letter boxes, poor loft insulation and single glazed windows.
There are numerous ways that you can reduce heat loss or limit the feeling of lower temperatures around yourself.
Cavity Wall Insulation- One of the easiest if more expensive ways to reduce heat loss is the use of wall insulation, newer buildings are built with a cavity between the inside and outside walls. Filling these cavities with insulation can help to reduce heat loss as well as reduce the amount of energy needed to heat the building.
Solid Wall Insulation- Older buildings may have single solid walls instead, insulation will require a full redecoration to install insulation boards on all walls.
Floor Insulation- Some floors have gaps underneath where floorboards have been laid, these areas can be filled with insulating material. A secondary effect here could be the sealing of cracks or gaps between the boards, or the replacement of broken boards to reduce drafts,
Roof/Loft Insulation- As with the other parts of the residence, roofs/lofts usually have cavities or open areas that would be suited to the installation of insulation. As heat rises, this is one of the areas that most heat is lost, and so insulation is useful to prevent heat from escaping through the roof.
Draught Proofing- Draught proofing can take many forms, the simplest are the gaps under doors or around windows. Older houses may have single glazes or sash windows that over time have become ill fitting. If replacement is unlikely or impossible, then it may be an idea to use some form of sealant around any gaps between the windows and the walls.
For doors the best way is to use draught excluders or to mount curtains in front of doors leading outside, especially those that have letterboxes or numerous glass panels. At the same time letterboxes can be replaced or enhanced with their own draft excluders to prevent wind getting through.
Insulating tanks, pipes, and radiators- Hot water systems can lose heat via the simple movement of the water through the pipes, it may be a good idea to insulate the tanks and pipes with lagging to prevent further loss. Radiators may also be covered to prevent heat being lost, forcing most of the heat forward as opposed to up and out, reflective materials behind the radiators may also be of help. This insulation will also help with preventing the pipes from freezing in winter months.
Chimneys- Older buildings may have usable or unused chimneys, with fewer and fewer residences using old fashioned coal and wood burning fires, the flues may be open to the elements. If no longer in use, then blocking up the chimneys may be a worthwhile way of reducing heat loss.
Carpets/Rugs- One of the simplest ways to prevent heat loss, or the encroaching of the cold, is to lay carpets and rugs on the ground. Older buildings may have concrete floors with floorboards laid directly onto the ground, if so then carpets will help to reduce the cold coming through with rugs further helping.
Furniture- If you feel that the cold near to windows or doors is too much, then a simple way of reducing that. The movement of furniture, especially chairs, sofas and dining tables away from the edges may help with the feeling of chill, especially when combined with others.
Secondary Glazing- Secondary glazing while less expensive than fully renovating or adding insulation is still more expensive than most, this is usually added to buildings without double glazing or unable to replace windows in place due to conservation issues or costs.
Curtains- One of the easiest ways to prevent heat loss is the use of curtains and blinds on windows and doors, keeping them closed during cold spells can help reflect heat back into the rooms. More and more people are mounting curtains to their front and back doors to prevent draughts from coming into the room and heat escaping.
Radiators- Most buildings in recent years have had radiators installed as built or refitted due to requirements, the best use of these is a combination of reflective panels, insulating boxes and actually reducing the temperature it heats up to. A half degree to a full degree less than your standard will lower the cost of the electricity used as well as prevent more heat escaping as it rises slower. In addition if you use certain rooms rarely, then turning off the radiator and shutting the door to the room can also help with heating the building without using more power.
Timers- If you are away from home for most of the day, then setting timers for heating and hot water is also another way to save time, money and more importantly keep your house warm when you need it. Setting the timers can also help at night, turning the heating on just before you get out of bed ensuring you are warm when getting ready to leave home.
Closing Doors and Windows- The most obvious but overlooked way to save heat is to close the doors and windows to the outside, isolate each room to ensure that if there is a leak that it does not take all of the heat out of the building. Check the seals around the window if you have them and ensure they are working well, if they are missing, or damaged then getting replacements should be a priority.
Below are links to coverage of the council’s climate emergency working group, media coverage of our Thermal Camera Scheme and to groups that can help you improve on energy savings for your home.
Links:
Climate Emergency - Walmer Town Council (walmercouncil.co.uk)
Links to media coverage
Walmer Town Council Thermal Imagine Scheme- BBC Radio
Walmer Town Council Thermal Imagine Scheme- Meridian Tonight
Energy Saving Trust
Green Doctors South