E.On and Coventry City Council are collaborating to use drones to gain data on housing energy efficiency, alongside technology startup Kestrix.
The project is based on drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and innovative 3D heat loss modelling. E.On says the drones scan houses from a distance of about 50 metres and can accurately quantify how and where heat escapes from buildings within a few minutes. Compared to the traditional model of house visits, which can take several hours, this means significant savings in time and costs.
The new solution also provides a much clearer picture of how much it costs to heat a house and how heat losses can be remedied. Energy efficiency measures can thus be optimally targeted at those households with the greatest heat loss. Machine learning algorithms provide insights into which improvements are best and most cost-effective.
The first drone flights are expected to start in the coming weeks. Once the flight data is available, the project team will process and evaluate it and contact local residents to show them options for improving energy efficiency. Part of the consultation may also include financing options for the necessary measures.
The collaboration between E.On and Kestrix emerged from the Free Electrons Open Innovation Programme.