When Maureen Dyroff looked at her home through a thermal camera, she could see exactly where it was losing heat. It was a turning point that confirmed the need for better insulation and gave her the confidence to explore wider improvements with a Whole House Plan from Cosy Homes Oxfordshire.

About Maureen

Maureen is the Co-ordinator of Chinnor & Thame Friends of the Earth and has been championing environmental causes since her early 20s. She holds a science degree and retired in 2020 as Supervisor of Jack and Jill Preschool. Having lived in Chinnor since 1978, she is well known in her community and continues to play an active role in local environmental action.

About the home 

Her home is a detached house built in the late 1960s, with several later extensions. It has cavity walls filled with urea formaldehyde, a pitched roof insulated at joist level, and a solid floor with built-in insulation.

The property already had a range of features:

• 100% double glazing (mostly replaced in 2018)
• A C-rated condensing gas boiler (88% efficiency)
• A solar PV system with battery
• A solar thermal system

Even so, the thermal camera revealed clear areas of heat loss that needed to be tackled.

Why the Whole House Plan? 

Maureen was already concerned about climate change and wanted to lower both her carbon footprint and her energy bills. Seeing the results of the thermal camera survey made the priorities clear.

She was also considering how best to update her older solar thermal system, add more solar PV, and possibly switch to a heat pump.

The Whole House Plan provided by Cosy Homes Oxfordshire gave her a complete picture of how her home was performing. It uncovered more opportunities than she had expected and helped her focus on the measures that would deliver the biggest improvements within her budget.

Making a cosy home 

Maureen decided to go ahead with a few carefully chosen measures that were both cost-effective and practical. Recently, she had the loft boards lifted to add extra insulation underneath, as the existing insulation was below the recommended level. The boards were then put back, raised on stilts, and she also had an insulated loft hatch fitted to reduce heat loss.

A cavity wall inspection revealed that the existing insulation was breaking down. She is now waiting for the old material to be removed and replaced with a more effective insulation.

She also found a great deal on a heat pump through her energy provider, making her home even more energy efficient.

Value for money 

With so many potential improvements identified, Maureen found the Whole House Plan to be excellent value for money. Choosing which measures to prioritise was a challenge, but she’s delighted with the final decisions, knowing they have made her home more comfortable and energy efficient while also reducing her carbon footprint.

Getting started

At Cosy Homes Oxfordshire, we take a whole house approach to home improvements, making sure every measure works together to maximise comfort, energy savings, and long-term value.

Get in touch with our team on  0330 223 2742 or by send us a message to book a home energy assessment and receive a tailored plan – helping you make the right improvements for a warmer, healthier, and more energy-efficient home.

Want to try thermal imaging on your property?

Local community groups may be running free thermal imaging projects in your area. Low Carbon Hub also has two cameras available for community use. These surveys are a great way to spot heat loss and plan energy-saving improvements – but they only work in very cold weather, when the temperature difference between inside and outside is clear.

Cosy Homes Oxfordshire can also offer thermal imaging as part of our service for a fee. If you’d like professional images and guidance on what they mean for your home, we can arrange this as part of your Whole House Plan or consultation.