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A collection of over 250 uses for artificial intelligence

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Thermal Imaging for Energy Efficiency Audits

Introduction

The Energy industry has always been a very dynamic sector that has always embraced changes and improvements. With the ever increasing global concerns on climate change as well as the need to adopt efficient energy conservation measures, this sector is now seeking solutions from technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computer Vision (CV). Another area where this technology is being used to great effect is the CV AI in Thermal Imaging for Energy Efficiency Audits. Thermal imaging, which has long been used in energy audits, is now enhanced with AI to offer better insights. These technologies are being integrated in energy efficiency audits thus providing a new dimension to the data collected and analysis made.

Challenges

There are however, certain challenges that are limiting the growth of this technology which include; The cost of thermal imaging equipment, the fact that people who are going to assess the thermal images need training, the fact that conventional thermal imaging does not give quantitative results and the fact that this technology is not compatible with other systems. In addition, thermal images may be affected by environmental conditions such as sunlight, wind and temperature, thus making it difficult to achieve precise and reliable measurements. Last but not the least, thermal imaging is a static measurement, which makes it difficult to track variations and improvements in energy efficiency over a period of time.

AI Solutions

There are many challenges that AI can solve. First, AI algorithms can be developed to analyse the thermal images instead of depending on the expertise of personnel and thus minimize the chances of errors. The algorithms that are used in this case can also produce quantitative results and therefore enable better quantification and comparison of results. In addition, AI can assist in eliminating the interference that is brought about by other factors in the environment thus enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the results. It can also be integrated with other systems through the use of application programming interfaces (APIs) and other software interfaces. In addition, AI can support the monitoring of energy efficiency on a continuous basis which offers real-time information and allows for corrective actions to be taken. For instance, Fluke Corporation’s PTi120 Pocket Thermal Imager comes with an AI feature that helps in pattern recognition and classification.

Benefits

There are numerous ways in which CV AI can be leveraged in thermal imaging for energy efficiency audits and each of them presents a distinct set of benefits. Some of the advantages are higher accuracy, higher efficiency, cost efficiency, enhanced safety, and the capability to act on an informed basis. Furthermore, it enables the detection of possible challenges that could lead to expensive maintenance needs in the future. It also has the potential of identifying potential problems early enough thus reducing the costs and time needed for fixing in the future. It can also enable one to have a better view of how energy is used in the building and therefore help in coming up with better ways of conserving energy.

Return on Investment

It can be noted that while the initial costs may be rather high for this technology, the investment can be quite profitable. This technology therefore has the potential of reducing energy waste and hence reduce costs in the long run. In addition, it can also assist in the prevention of break downs as well as costly repairs by raising an early warning on possible faults. According to a study by the U. S Department of Energy, companies can cut their energy costs by 15% if they adopt recommendations from energy audits. With CV AI, the savings may be even more.

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