Case Study - Heat and Three Veg

The Three Villages Eco Group (3 VEG), made up of three villages in East Hertfordshire, have successfully applied to the second and final round of East of England Development Agency’s (EEDA’s) Cut your Carbon funding competition.

The community - made up primarily of the three main villages of Braughing, Standon and Puckeridge along with several smaller outlying hamlets - want to use thermal imaging cameras to map the energy loss of all buildings within the project area, and to provide support to improve the energy efficiency and insulation of domestic, commercial and public buildings.

3 VEG representative Rob Street explains: “In line with local authority guidelines, it is recommended that all community and public buildings reduce energy use and consequently carbon emissions. This project will expand this concept to cover all buildings within the parishes. It is proposed to purchase thermal imaging equipment, associated software, computer equipment and training.

“We plan to map the heat escaping from buildings within the parishes using this equipment. Images will be made available to households as well as a resource kit which will enable them to make changes in their lifestyle to reduce carbon emissions (e.g. Insulation, temperature control, use of domestic appliances, lighting etc). This will reduce both carbon emissions and fuel bills for community members. The final phase of the project will be to ‘remap’ the buildings using the thermal imaging equipment to show increased energy efficiency and a lower carbon footprint for the community.

“This will build on the concept of ‘Save Money Go Green’ already promoted within the project area and will be especially beneficial to disadvantaged members of the community, with a special emphasis on older people and those on low incomes – an increasing proportion of the local community.”

3 VEG will now receive help through the process of creating a viable business plan, appointing suppliers and all the other steps required to make their project proposal a reality. The Cut your Carbon funding competition will close after this round, earlier than originally planned, due to budget reductions across EEDA.