The fact that so many Islanders enjoy the warmth of a furnace or wood stove through the cold and wet months doesn’t seem to save us from the shocking hydro bills that come simultaneously. For the past two winters, though, members of Bowen in Transition have been trying to help Islanders lower their costs while being more comfortable in their homes.
Three years ago, the municipality purchased a thermal imaging camera through the carbon tax rebates offered through the province’s Community Revenue Incentive Program. Bowen in Transition kicked in two smaller infrared cameras that attach to smart phones and all three were donated to the library for residents to borrow. Since their acquisition, a team from Bowen In Transition has visited 46 local homes to take images showing the temperatures of interior walls, floors, ceilings, doors and windows, with the aim of finding ways to conserve interior heat and subsequently lower the amount of energy required to keep the home warm.
The work is more than finding gaps in insulation or drafty windows; it’s about understanding how and where heat moves.
A Bowen In Transition energy audit in my home revealed the reason why the bedroom in the south side of our house was sprouting mushrooms: the radiant heat of the wood stove was sucking air in from those far rooms, making them extra cold. That particular room only gets used on weekends and when we have guests, so we don’t heat it much. It is likely that the low temperatures mixed with high humidity created the perfect conditions for mildew, mould and fungus to flourish.
We followed the team’s advice and got a dehumidifier. Now, the machine sucks moisture out of the air and warms the room at the same time. Next step for us is getting more blinds and drapes to stop the windows (which are actually pretty well sealed) from sucking radiant heat from our bodies and the fire.
If you’ve already had an energy audit done, or want to try doing one yourself, you might want to borrow one of the library’s thermal imaging cameras and check out the impact of your home improvements. On Wednesday, November 14 at 7 p.m., Rod Marsh will be at the Library Annex demonstrating how to use them.
If you want to book an energy audit, send an email to: bowenenergyaudits@gmail.com. The Bowen In Transition Energy Audit Team will spend an hour working with the thermal imaging camera in your home, offering you creative solutions and answering questions.
