We are the charity formerly known as Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS)

We are the charity formerly known as Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS)

Find out where your home is losing heat -
FREE basic thermal imaging in your community

Thermal imaging helps to identify cold spots in your home and the possible causes.

The thermal imaging camera detects the heat emitted and shows it in a colour-coded way – the colder areas are shown in blue and the warmer ones in red. This can indicate draughts, missing or defective insulation, water ingress, damp, and cold bridges.

Due to high demand this season, thermal imaging visits are now only available in:

  • Arnside
  • Brampton
  • Crosthwaite & Lyth, Underbarrow with Helsington, Crook and Winster, Cartmel Fell
  • Keswick and surrounding villages
  • St Bees


If you live in other parts of Cumbria and would like a thermal imaging visit, please continue to book, and you will be added to our waiting list for next season. We will be in touch later in the year.

Solutions can include quick fixes as well as areas that require professional advice.​

volunteering clock
  • Door seals around the sides and top of the door 
  • Door brush seals around the bottom of the door 
  • Letterbox brush or Eco Flap 
  • Keyhole brush and / or flap 
  • Window seals  
  • Loft hatch seals 
  • Chimney sheep or chimney balloon 
  • Upgrade of pet flaps 
  • Turning off radiators in rooms that aren’t used
  • Curtain for the front door
Retrofit House

These are examples of actions that were specific to households, and professional advice should be sought before embarking on significant interventions. 

  • Applied for an ECO 4 grant for storage heaters and solar panels  
  • Intending to insulate under floorboards and cap off cavities  
  • Remove concrete render and replace with thermal lime plaster  
  • Investigating thermal insulation options for external walls  
  • Replacing single glazed windows with double or secondary glazing  
  • Replaced LED downlighters with new fire-retardant LED downlighters that can be overlaid with insulation 
  • Tackling the lack of insulation above a sloping ceiling  
  • Cavity wall insulation  
  • More insulation in the loft and loft hatch door
  • Planning a full refurbishment and accessing the home retrofit services 

Which areas can get a free thermal imaging visit?

Our trained volunteers across Cumbria can offer free basic thermal imaging visits in the following areas, subject to availability.

  • Arnside   
  • Brampton 
  • Crosthwaite & Lyth, Underbarrow with Helsington, Crook and Winster, Cartmel Fell
  • Keswick and surrounding villages 
  • St Bees 

Our thanks go to the volunteers at Sustainable Arnside, Crosthwaite and Lyth Eco Action Network, Brampton to Zero, Penrith Action for Community Transition, Sustainable Keswick and St Bees Green Future.

Thermal images of your home can give you the insights you need to begin making your property warmer, healthier, cheaper to heat, and lower your carbon footprint.
Our free and paid-for services, along with government grants, can support you on that journey.  
thermal survey

Our advisers and volunteers have all had basic thermal imaging training, hold a DBS certificate, and adhere to our code of conduct for being in other people’s homes.
We have provided most of the cameras being used, which are high-spec infrared thermal imaging cameras that give accurate readings.

The window for conducting thermal imaging is from late October, when it turns colder, through to the end of March, before the weather warms up. 
Outside of this window, no bookings or visits can be made.
 

futurehomes radiator

1. Our thermal imaging team will call or email you to arrange a suitable date and time, usually early morning, late afternoon or early evening.

The visit usually takes about an hour, and the images are captured inside your home.

Our team will let you know if there is anything you need to do before the visit, for example turning your heating on in advance – for optimum results, it needs to be warmer inside than outside. They will also need to be aware of any vulnerable residents or lively pets! 

camera

2. The thermal imaging team will share the images with you electronically by email shortly after the visit, along with a What Next guide.

This guide provides some basic information on draughtproofing and insulation – a combination of simple quick fixes and guidance on when to seek professional advice, along with support and services available from us here at Futureproof Cumbria. 

Futureproof-Cumbria-phone

3. New! You will receive a follow-up telephone call from one of our Home Energy Advisers.

You’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions about your thermal imaging visit and chat about any further support that we can provide.

Ready to start the process?

Don't just take our word for it...

Feedback from people we've helped

This service is supported by funding through the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme and Westmorland and Furness Council. 
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