Leading the world in mission creep

[unixronin]

UK town councils are using aerial observation with thermal imaging cameras to identify a new class of dangerous offenders against society.  Their offense?  Growing marijuana in their homes?  Night-time smuggling?

Nope ... turning their thermostats up too high or not having enough insulation.

Notice that amid the discussion of sending people to talk to those who are using too much energy, it’s also mentioned that the aerial thermal surveys could spot “people on low incomes who are not heating their homes because they cannot afford to” ... but there’s no mention of doing anything about them.

Comments

One way I could always tell people who needed more insulation

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

was to look around the neighborhood after a snowfall. Some roofs would be clear of snow almost immediately. As the years go by and more people have gotten decent insulation, their numbers have been shrinking, but there are still a few holdouts.

Re: One way I could always tell people who needed more insulation

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

We need much better insulation. This house gets cold in winter unless we're willing to spend $1000 a month on heat.

Re: One way I could always tell people who needed more insulation

[n5red.livejournal.com]

Or move to a more temperate climate.

Re: One way I could always tell people who needed more insulation

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

There's that, but the problem is that the house is poorly insulated.

Re: One way I could always tell people who needed more insulation

[cymrullewes.livejournal.com]

No. I'd rather freeze than burn. I can always add more layers of clothes/blankets.

My old was well-insulated in the attic (think pink!)

[dakiwiboid.livejournal.com]

But not so great in the windows. And our current apartment house was built around 1920, and the windows are really leaky. Without plastic sheeting, we would have frozen this winter!

Re: One way I could always tell people who needed more insulation

[hrrunka]

Yeah, that works fairly well round here on estates where there are lots of very similar houses. Not so good where there's a lot of variability though. Also, we don't get snow all that often... ;)