As defined in Wikipedia, Thermography is a type of infrared imaging science. This thermal imaging camera detects radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum and thus produces images of the radiation called thermograms.

Since infrared radiation is emitted by all objects because of their temperatures, thus making it possible for thermography to “see” one’s environment with or without visible illumination. When viewed with thermographic camera, warm objects shows out well against cooler backgrounds. That is why thermography is used widely now in military and security services.

What then is a Thermal Imaging Camera? It is a camera used by firefighters. Such thermal imaging cameras allow firefighters to see through smoke, darkness or heat-permeable barriers. This thermal imaging camera is composed of five components that are an optic system, microbolometer, amplifier, signal processing and display. These parts works together to render infrared radiation such as that given off by warm objects into a visible light.

Many thermal imaging cameras use grayscale to represent normal temperature objects but shows hot surfaces in different colors. That is why Firefighters use it to see through smoke, find persons and help get on the base of a fire to stop it fast.Others use it in maintenance of power lines, technicians can now locate overheating joints and parts eliminating potential hazards. There are a lot of uses for Thermal Cameras and today its efficiency is widely used in Infrared building Inspections.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “the normal family spends almost $2,500 a year on their home’s utility bills and yet a large portion of that energy is wasted due to insufficient insulation and a lack of weather stripping around doors and windows.” As a result Professional home inspectors are now using state of the art technology like the infrared technology to solve this problem. They use this technology to perform energy auditing of homes and buildings to improve energy efficiency resulting to savings on energy costs.

Thermal Imaging Cameras are really effective whether it’s for a comprehensive home energy audit, heat loss analysis or for a quality assurance check of installed installation. Through this new technology, Inspectors can easily detect missing insulation in walls and ceilings or air leakage around doors, windows and along the foundation. The problem then can be easily addressed. By using this Digital Thermal Cameras, they are able to instantly see and diagnose the problem saving them much time and energy and money. Not only that, the big advantage of using this technology is that it can help reduce high energy bills. Most of the time, high utility bills are due to air leaks, missing insulation, inefficient cooling/heating equipment. If this problem will be address then definitely a lot of savings will be in your utility bills.

Another is that it can help your medical expenses. By reducing indoor allergens, dust, mold, mildew and pests will result to a healthy environment and less medical expenses for your family. More so it will result to higher productivity for everyone. Also by having an energy efficient buildings it reduce our dependence on foreign natural gas and other fuels thus saving money and promoting local economic growth. So using this new technology is simply a must, It’s not only helping the economy but is helping each individual, each homes and building to be secure and each one of us would have the benefit to contribute to a better environment and go green audit with thermal imaging inspections. Not to consider the big savings in money, time and energy that individuals have when one initiates the use of this thermal infrared inspection.

by Lelani Sturdevant