Appeal for 'Hot Spotter' facilitators!

We introduced Energy Tracers in a newsletter earlier this year. Then on September 25th Brian Harper and Tony Winlow spoke at our energy efficiency evening explaining the concept in great detail.

In brief, a thermographic survey can help a householder to understand the thermal performance of their home. It can reveal the unseen loss of heat through the structure and pin point air leakage where cold air enters as well as where heat escapes. Householders can then act on a survey's findings to improve their comfort, reduce their energy bills and lower their carbon footprint.

Energy Tracers has a simple, low cost approach to providing its thermographic surveys. It relies upon the help of local 'Hot Spotters' who:

1. recruit three of their neighbours / friends to have their homes surveyed on the same day,

2. chauffeur the surveyor between surveys,

3. provide simple, practical help during the surveys,

4. collect the energy packs (left at each surveyed home) after four weeks.

Homes would be surveyed in groups of four per day, with indoor temperatures boosted to 10deg C above the outside ambient over the preceding 24 to 36 hours.  The outside daytime temperature should be low, ideally after the onset of a cold spell and below 10deg C in the day. Energy Tracers will alert 'Hot Spotters' to the approach of suitable conditions in your area to programme surveys and allow households to prepare.

The surveyor will need to point the thermographic camera at the inside of every external  surface in the home, including the inside of any built-in wardrobes.  It is important that householders accompany the surveyor throughout the survey. 

A DVD with commentary is burnt for the householder at the end of the survey. An energy monitoring action pack is installed and left with the household for a month. This allows the  monitoring of electricity, gas and water consumption. The pack also includes a 'maximum savings' manual with advice on energy efficiency measures, such as draught proofing and secondary glazing and includes contacts for home energy improvement work and help with energy efficiency, environmental awareness and energy monitoring. There is advice on behaviour change towards energy consumption too.

Pricing is simple, VAT-free and with alternatives that reward 'Hot Spotters' for their work:

-£60 per survey that applies also to the 'Hot Spotter's' home,

-£70 per survey and the 'Hot Spotter's' costs £30,

-£80 per survey and the 'Hot Spotter's' is free,

-£120 for one-off surveys without the introduction and assistance of a 'Hot Spotter'.

The hot spotter decides on which pricing option, not Energy Tracers or the hot spotter's friends/neighbours. The  hot spotter may decide to be altruistic and share the savings between all 4 people including him/herself by sharing with those who may need a financial incentive. Alternatively, the hotspotter can choose to make a personal saving of £30 or even £60 by charging their friends/neighbours the slightly higher rates. The £120 rate is reserved for one off customers who do not wish to be part of a hot spotter grouping.

Energy Tracers are trying to encourage hot spotters to be the community activists by promoting to others and reducing the work load of the surveyor.  

Receipted payment is in cash or by cheque at the end of each home's survey.

There are already ten interested households, including some 'Hot Spotters', in or near Crediton. Please let Charles Mossman know if you would like to be a 'Hot Spotter' or join them for a survey and Energy Tracers would be very pleased to help you.