An £80,000 project to map the energy waste of Broadland businesses using thermal imaging technology has been approved by the council.The aerial imaging will be carried out later this year in a bid to show how much energy is being lost through inefficient buildings.

An £80,000 project to map the energy waste of Broadland businesses using thermal imaging technology has been approved by the council.

The aerial imaging will be carried out later this year in a bid to show how much energy is being lost through inefficient buildings.

John Fisher, portfolio holder for environmental policy development, said: “The project is the first of its kind in the Broadland District and is part of the council's on-going support for local businesses.

“The project will involve carrying out aerial thermal imaging to enable us to see how much energy is being lost through the structures of local businesses; we can then work together with the businesses to help them lower their energy wastage and, in the process, their overheads and carbon footprint.”

The thermal imaging will take place over a series of days in autumn and winter when as much as a third of a building's energy use may be lost as heat though the roof.

The results will enable the council to work with small and medium-sized businesses to give energy efficiency advice on a case by case basis.

Mr Fisher added: “We will also work with the businesses and renewable energy installers to survey suitability of smart metering and applications of small scale renewables - solar panels, for example.”

Any business with questions about the thermal imaging process should call 01603 430627.