Thermographer Volunteer
FEL is the Scottish environmental charity that’s changing our world for the better, project by project.
We believe that powerful change can be simple to make, and we design the collaborative social and environmental projects that deliver it – helping everyone take small steps to make their lives better and the world a healthier, happier, more sustainable place.
Now we’re looking for the best people to keep us striding in the right direction.
Overview
Within our FEL Energy team, we help individuals and communities take control of their energy use, save money, and reduce their carbon emissions. We are now looking for Thermographer Volunteers to help us deliver our work.
Thermographer Volunteers support our mission to help households reduce energy loss, cut heating costs, and improve comfort by assisting with the delivery of high-quality thermal imaging surveys across the Forth Valley and areas of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Thermal imaging has quickly become one of our most popular and impactful services, with strong demand from households, community groups, and organisations seeking clear, visual evidence of where their buildings are losing heat.
Thermographers are essential because many of the biggest sources of energy waste such as draughts, missing insulation, cold bridging, and damp-related issues, are hidden from view. Thermal imaging reveals these issues instantly, giving residents and community building managers a clear picture of what’s happening behind walls, ceilings, and floors.
By identifying heat loss early, volunteers help people take targeted, cost-effective steps such as improving insulation, draughtproofing, addressing damp, or making small behaviour changes. These simple actions can significantly reduce heating bills, improve comfort, and prevent problems from getting worse over time.
As well as offering thermal imaging services to households, we also offer thermal imaging for community buildings, halls, and local groups, helping them manage energy costs more effectively and improve the experience of those who use their spaces.
Through uncovering hidden heat loss, insulation gaps, and damp risks, Thermographer Volunteers provide clear, actionable insights that support warmer, healthier, and more efficient homes and community spaces across the region.
What You’ll Do
As a Thermographer Volunteer, you will:
Support the delivery of thermal imaging surveys in local homes and community buildings, helping gather clear, accurate images that highlight heat loss, cold spots, and insulation issues.
• Assist with presurvey checks, such as preparing equipment, reviewing property details, and ensuring the building is suitable for a thermal survey.
Capture internal thermal images, following best practice around angles, distances, and environmental conditions.
• Help edit and organise thermal images, enhancing clarity and labelling key findings so they can be easily understood by householders.
• Support the creation of userfriendly reports, summarising key observations.
• Provide a friendly, professional presence during visits, helping residents feel comfortable and informed about the process.
Feedback common trends or recurring issues to the wider team to help shape future community support, workshops, or targeted interventions.
What You’ll Bring
No prior thermography experience is required for this role; you just need to be enthusiastic and willing to learn. Our ideal volunteers will:
• Have an interest in energy efficiency, buildings, or sustainability
• Be comfortable using equipment and basic software (training provided)
• Have good attention to detail skills and enjoy practical, hands-on tasks
• Be able to communicate clearly and work well as part of a friendly team
• Be reliable and happy to support home visits or community surveys
Support & Training
All volunteers receive:
• Equipment training, including how to safely use and care for thermal cameras
• Guidance on report creation, data handling, and communicating findings
• On-the-job support from our experienced Energy Advisors
• Access to all necessary software and templates where required
• Introductory training on thermal imaging and interpreting thermal patterns
• Introductory and bespoke ‘Stay Warm, Stay Well’ training through Energy Action Scotland covering:
- Introduction to EAS and the ‘Stay Warm Stay Well’ training
Fuel poverty – causes and effects
Cold damp homes and health impacts
Condensation dampness
Energy efficiency
Heat loss in the home
Paying for fuel and fuel debt issues
Sourcing help and effective signposting
Tariffs and switching
Time Commitment
This role is flexible and seasonal. Most of our thermal imaging surveys take place on evenings (around 6pm-8pm) between October to March when survey conditions are best. Volunteers usually contribute 3–6 hours per month, depending on availability and survey demand.
We’re happy to work with you to shape this role around your interests and time.
Impact of This Role
By becoming a Thermographer Volunteer, you will help:
Identify heat loss in local homes
• Reduce household energy costs and fuel poverty
• Increase awareness of simple energysaving improvements
Support carbon reduction and environmental protection
• Improve comfort and wellbeing for residents across the region
Skills You Will Gain
As a Thermographer Volunteer, you will develop a valuable blend of technical and analytical skills including:
• Thermal Imaging & Technical Handling:
Develop practical skills in operating thermal cameras, handling specialist equipment, performing basic calibration, and capturing high quality thermal images.
Thermal Interpretation & Problem Solving:
Learn to analyse thermal patterns, identify heat loss, cold bridging, insulation gaps, and damp risks, and understand what these patterns mean for household comfort and efficiency.
Energy Efficiency Knowledge:
Gain a solid understanding of heat loss, fuel poverty, dampness, ventilation, and simple, cost-effective actions households can take to reduce bills and stay warm.
Clear Communication & Community Interaction:
Build confidence in communicating findings to residents in a friendly, supportive way, helping householders understand their results without technical jargon.
Report Writing & Data Presentation:
Develop the ability to create clear, accessible thermal survey reports using images, annotations, and plain language explanations that householders can easily act upon.
Sound like you?
If this sounds like you – and you like the sound of us – then please apply: email us a covering letter explaining why you’d like to volunteer for us and what you can bring to the role (500 words max) at the following address to energy@felscotland.org.
If you need more information, any support in making your application or would just like to chat to us about the role and how your skills and experience might fit, please get in touch: just email energy@felscotland.org to arrange a time to talk.
We look forward to hearing from you and working together to help people, their communities and our planet thrive.