E.ON has announced it is using drones to assess UK homes for suitability for various sustainability measures.
In less than an hour, customers’ homes can be assessed for their suitability for solar panels, air source heat pumps and insulation fitted under floors, on solid walls, within cavity walls, under roofs or inside lofts.
Using body-worn mobile laser scanners and thermal analysis, E.ON’s drone pilot surveyors can assess walls, floors and ceilings, producing accurate and immediate information which is then combined with drone images of the property’s roof and surrounding area.
This makes the process of assessing suitability for a range of sustainable technologies and energy efficiency measures quicker and more efficient than measuring by hand using laser or tape. The data is stored rather like an energy passport, removing the need for subsequent visits to the same property if further improvement work is later carried out.
Michael Lewis, CEO of E.ON UK, said: “This is in effect a home and energy health assessment – done by drone in under an hour and giving an inside-out image of all the areas where we can improve energy efficiency and make homes more comfortable for customers, as well as helping to reduce bills and carbon emissions.
“Something like 19 million homes across the country are in urgent need of improvement but we know homeowners can often be left confused by the range of energy saving options. Our eye in the sky drone technology gives an accurate and speedy assessment of the most suitable and sustainable technologies.”
Read more at eonenergy.com.
