For the second year running Somerset Council’s library service has won the South Western Regional Library Services Initiative Award.

In 2022 the team won the award for their pop up library at the Glastonbury Festival.

This year they won an award for lending out thermal imaging cameras. Certainly not the sort of thing you might expect a library to do.

The scheme was launched to help residents identify heat loss in their homes. Then using the information to take action to improve the energy efficiency and reduce fuel bills. Residents can borrow the camera for free by visiting their local library and speaking to a member of staff to reserve the kit. Somerset Libraries have now loaned the devices out to more than 100 residents.

The cameras work by connecting to a smartphone or tablet to display a thermal image of the home. Then you can identify any areas of improvement, such as insulation or draught proofing.

And with the latest COP meeting coming to an end, it is worth noting that homes account for 22% of the UK carbon emissions.

And of course the library service are ideally placed to help you get further advice from Somerset Council. On things such as how to insulate your home and what sort of grants may be available.