Weatherization imaging systems and methods

• US 8,086,042 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johns Manville Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Johns Manville Corporation (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fellinger, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desire, Gregory M
• Application Number:
  US11/617,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20080159616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 378/63, 382/103, 382/141, 382/218, 702/136
• US Class Current: 382/218
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/72 Investigating presence of flaws

Abstract

Methods and systems for evaluating a performance installment in a building construction include preparing a first image of the building construction, implementing the performance installment in the building construction, preparing a second image of the building construction subsequent to or during implementation of the performance installment, and evaluating the performance installment based on a comparison between the first image and the second image. Performance installments include weatherization measures such as the application of thermal insulation and air-sealing. Related methods and systems for calculating a performance plan for a building construction include transmitting analysis information to a processor, and determining the performance plan based on the analysis information. The analysis information may include a thermal signature, an airflow signature, an acoustic signature, or a vibrational signature.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating a performance installment in a building construction, comprising:

preparing a first image of the building construction;

implementing the performance installment in the building construction;

preparing a second image of the building construction subsequent to or during implementation of the performance installment; and

evaluating the performance installment based on a comparison between the first image and the second image.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first image comprises a first thermal image and the second image comprises a second thermal image.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first image represents a heat loss signature or a heat gain signature of the building construction.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the building construction comprises a member selected from the group consisting of an exterior wall, an interior wall, a ceiling, a floor, a roof, an attic, a rafter, a basement, and a crawlspace.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the performance installment comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a thermal insulation installment, an air sealing installment, an acoustic installment, and a vibrational installment.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein evaluating the performance installment comprises inputting the first and second images into a computer and processing the first and second images with mapping software to provide a map of the building construction.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising inputting the first image into a computer and calculating a set of treatment parameters for the performance installment based on the first image.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the set of treatment parameters comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a thermal insulation location, a thermal insulation density, a thermal insulation amount, and an air sealing location.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising incorporating the performance installment evaluation into an energy guarantee program.

10. A method of calculating a performance plan for a building construction, comprising:

capturing analysis information using a member selected from the group consisting of a thermal imaging device, an airflow detecting device, an acoustic detection device, and a vibration testing device;

transmitting the analysis information to a processor; and

determining the performance plan based on the analysis information, the performance plan comprising a member selected from the group consisting of a weatherization plan and a comfortization plan;

wherein the analysis information comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a thermal signature, an airflow signature, an acoustic signature, and a vibrational signature.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising transmitting installment information to the processor, and determining the performance plan based on the installment information.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising transmitting building information to the processor, and determining the performance plan based on the building information.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising transmitting target information to the processor, and determining the performance plan based on the target information.

14. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for evaluating a performance installment in a building construction, the program product comprising:

code stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for receiving a first analysis information associated with the building construction prior to implementation of the performance installment;

code stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for receiving a second analysis information associated with the building construction subsequent to implementation of the performance installment; and

code stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for evaluating the performance installment based on a comparison of the first analysis information and the second analysis information.

15. The computer program product according to claim 14, further comprising code for determining whether the performance installment meets a requirement of an energy guarantee program.

16. The computer program product according to claim 14, further comprising code for determining whether the performance installment meets a target information.

17. The computer program product according to claim 14, further comprising code for creating a map of the building construction.

18. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the map comprises an image of the building construction prior to implementation of the performance installment, an image of the building construction subsequent to implementation of the performance installment, or both.

19. The computer program product according to claim 14, further comprising code for calculating a performance plan based on the second analysis information.

20. The computer program product according to claim 14, further comprising code for calculating an energy savings based on a comparison of the first analysis information and the second analysis information.