A London borough is lending thermal imaging cameras to residents so they can identify where heat is leaking out of their home.
Kensington and Chelsea is the first council in the country to launch the scheme designed to help people keep sky-high energy bills down by insulating cold spots in rooms.
The “pioneering” pilot has been started on the Lancaster West Estate and could be rolled out across the borough if successful.
It has revealed some surprising spots where heat can escape from flats, including from plug sockets, electrical fittings in walls and ceilings and even light switches, which are areas often poorly insulated in older homes.
The town hall is offering draft excluders, smart thermostats, and radio reflectors, to improve insulation and ventilation across the estate and will use the thermal imaging camera pictures to prioritise retrofit works.
Deputy Leader Kim Taylor Smith said: “We’re proud of this pioneering thermal imaging equipment loan scheme which will help us make Lancaster West a paragon 21st Century estate with safe, secure and warm homes.
“The scheme will help people identify fast fixes in their homes while we roll out our programme of major works across the estate.
“This will help us be a carbon net zero council by 2030 while also helping residents keep their energy bills lower once work has been carried out in their home.”
Kensington and Chelsea has set aside £400m to upgrade council homes across the borough.
