A thermal science project in Townsville led by QUT sustainable energy expert Dr Wendy Miller will recruit ‘superheroes’ to track down energy vampires preying on their homes and driving up power bills.
- Dr Miller heads the ‘Tropical Homes Superhero Challenge’, being delivered through Bunnings Warehouse Townsville North
- She is showing team members, customers and tradespeople this week how to use a small thermal imaging camera attached to an iPhone or iPad
- From November 6, Townsville residents can borrow a camera to check for energy vampires in their homes
Dr Miller, a Senior Research Fellow in QUT’s Science and Engineering Faculty, said the Advance Queensland-funded project will run through summer until February next year.
“We’re using thermal science in a practical way to educate people about how energy leaks out of their homes, and the impact this can have on their electricity bills,” Dr Miller said.
“We chose Townsville for this project because of its tropical climate. We want to show the community how heat impacts on their lives and houses – how and where it travels into the house, what is it doing to their energy consumption, and what they can do to take control of their comfort and use cooling more effectively.”
Dr Miller said Australian houses in general were “very leaky” and could feed energy vampires.
Houses may get hotter and more uncomfortable because of:
- poor or no insulation to protect from heat
- air gaps around windows and doors and through ceiling lights that let in heat
- non-shaded walls, windows and dark-coloured building materials that allow heat in.
“Airconditioners in such houses have to work very hard to get rid of the heat,” Dr Miller said. “The heat can continue to come in through the gaps, wasting the money you spend on cooling. Imagine your dollars being sucked out the door.
“Other energy vampires in the house might include a refrigerator with leaky door seals, or uninsulated hot water pipes, or devices on standby power.”
Dr Miller is using FLIR ONE Pro infrared cameras for the project to help householders identify heat problems in their homes so they can consider solutions.
The cameras attach to an iPhone or iPad and capture colour thermal images. Hot spots glow yellow/orange/red while cool spots are shades of blue. The device’s app can also show temperature readings.
The project’s superhero theme, Dr Miller said, was to show that science can be fun and engaging and that “we can be superheroes in our own homes”.
“We’re encouraging project participants to take pictures or videos of the energy vampires in their houses and upload them to a central portal, and be creative.
“They’ll be competing for prizes, but we’ll also be learning from each other. What are the places in typical Townsville houses where heat is being allowed in, increasing the work of airconditioners and increasing electricity bills?”
In the spirit of the challenge, Dr Miller is superhero ‘Dr Wen’: inspired by Wonder Woman, a tropical superhero who uses advanced technology to combat enemies; Superman, who could see heat; and Dr Who, who can link minds to share information and enhance powers.
“Dr Who has a sonic screwdriver,” she said. “We’ll be using smartphones and thermal imaging cameras to challenge the energy vampires.”
Details:
Dr Miller is running workshops from October 24 to November 5 at Bunnings Warehouse Townsville North to familiarise team members and tradespeople with the devices, so they can demonstrate them to householders.
The devices will be available for loan through Bunnings Hireshop (Townsville North) from November 6 to January 31. A refundable security deposit is required, but there is no cost for hire. Bunnings will run in-store project DIY workshops and school activities.
Media contacts:
Karen Milliner, QUT Media, 07 3138 1841 or k.milliner@qut.edu.au
After hours, Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au
Kym McQuarters, Bunnings Townsville North, 07 4412 0253
