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Energy auditors may use thermography—or infrared scanning—to detect thermal defects and air leakage in building envelopes and in attic insulation. Thermal, or infrared energy, is light that is not visible to the human eye. Why? The wave length is too long for our eyes to detect it. Thermal energy is everywhere. It is actually part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we perceive as heat. Everything with a temperature above absolute zero emits heat. The higher the object's temperature, the greater the infrared radiation that is emitted.. Infrared thermography cameras produce images of invisible infrared or "heat" radiation. This allows us to "see" what we can not feel and what we can not see with the naked eye. Although there are several uses for the camera in energy audits, one of the most important is to discover areas of homes or buildings with no insulation or scant insulation, particularly in walls or attics. For example, it is common in a 1.5-story home for bats of insulation to slip when installed on a wall or vertical surface. This leaves that wall or part of that wall exposed to the heat of your attic. Although in most situations, that is seen in a visual audit, infrared thermography is used to examine areas where no human eye can reach. The most accurate thermographic images normally occur when there is at least 20°F between inside and outside air temperatures. In Texas, that is almost all year because of the importance of hot attic air to your energy bills. Before You Sign on the Dotted Line In addition to using thermography during an energy audit, a scan done before purchasing a home or building is also useful. And, of course, even new houses and buildings can have defects in the insulation and thermal envelopes. You may wish to include a clause in your contract with a builder requiring a thermographic scan of the house and suitable repairs before closing. In fact, an energy audit is always a good idea before you buy a home or close on your new home. For
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