Lessons learned
Thermal imaging is most effective when there is a 10 - 15° degree difference between outside and inside temperatures; conditions that are more common in the winter and summer. Due to long waitlists, many people who signed up for the cameras in January did not receive them until the fall when they are not at their peak effectiveness. This also means that the cameras might not be available when homeowners are undergoing upgrades to their home, a time when the insights gained by the camera could motivate a homeowner to include additional measures to improve the energy efficiency of their home.
Since first offering the cameras on a first come, first served basis, The City of Kamloops now offers workshops where attendees have the opportunity to assess the carbon footprint of their home and transportation choices and then discuss solutions. At these workshops, participants can borrow a camera and receive a draft-proofing kit on the day of the workshop, equipping them to take immediate actions to reduce their home energy use. The draft proofing kits consist of plastic film insulation for windows, electrical switch and outlet draft insulators (the most popular items), and two types of weather stripping for doors and windows (City of Kamloops, 2019).
Challenges
The greatest challenge of this program has been keeping up with the demand for the cameras. Initially, social and conventional media were used to promote the program. However, these efforts were suspended due to oversubscription to the service. Another challenge was tracking the success of the program beyond participation. Because the cameras were loaned through the library, privacy protection laws prohibit contacting people based on their borrowing history. This means it has been challenging to encourage participants to complete the follow-up survey, which collects information on how many people used the draft-proofing kits, which part of the kits were used, and which participants decided to undertake retrofits based on information provided through the program. Based on the data from the small sample size of the pilot program 64% of those who used the cameras completed the exercises outlined in the program guide (City of Kamloops, 2019).