Top six places to look for energy losses in commercial buildings

Unlike regular digital cameras that capture images of the visible light reflected by objects, thermal imagers create pictures by detecting infrared energy or heat. The thermal imager then assigns colors based on the temperature differences it detects.

With a small amount of training, most people can readily spot abnormal heat flow patterns and follow the heat trail to energy waste. The technique works best when used by people who already possess a good working knowledge of the structures and systems being scanned and can better interpret the temperature variances they see on camera.

A typical scan can show energy saving opportunities of up to 15%, with varying degrees of repair investments.