Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a system that uses a camera to detect air leakage from buildings in real time.
This system could provide more accurate readings much faster than current diagnostic tools. Through a sequence of images, the system visualizes leaking air that is a different temperature than the surrounding air.
Researchers crafted algorithms that measure velocity and flow rate for real-time leak visualization. The system has been used successfully to detect air leakage through brick, vinyl siding, and concrete masonry blocks under sunny and cloudy conditions.
The research team is working to measure the amount of leakage occurring. This will allow building owners to better prioritize areas that most need sealing.
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Inspiring Offices: Office Design That Drives Creativity
Office design has always been linked to productivity—how many workers can be reasonably squeezed into a given space—but why isn’t it more frequently linked to creativity? “In general, I don’t think enough people link the design of space to business outcome,” says Janice Linster, partner with the Minneapolis design firm Studio Hive.
