The energy managers' kit list

• Digital thermometers with type K thermocouple probes. You will need one instrument operating in the range –50 to 200°C, ideally with 0.1 °C resolution, and another for 500°C with 1 °C precision. For high-temperature applications a robust probe is needed. For lower-temperature work (below 200°C, say), a bare thermocouple junction can be used. They are very good for air temperature because they respond quickly, but they can also be attached to pipework under a wad of insulation to get a reasonable measurement of flow temperature. Thermocouples can be left in place and read manually by connecting the instrument when required. Compensating extension cable is necessary if the probe needs to be used at a distance (on the end of a pole, for instance).
• A sling hygrometer enables a spot check to be made on wet and dry bulb air temperatures. Alternatively, use a digital relative humidity probe (especially if moisture contents of a product need to be measured).
• Non-contact thermometers can be useful to give approximate temperatures of inaccessible surfaces, or to scan for hot spots. An infra-red camera can be hired if large areas need to be assessed in detail. Results of infra-red thermography must be interpreted with caution.
• Miniature data loggers such as TinyTags which record temperature, relative humidity, voltage, or pulses, may be useful for extended tests. Pulses may be logged from a variety of sources including PIR sensors (logging occupancy levels) or even improvised temporary contacts on valve linkages and other moving equipment.

  For temperature logging only, I recommend "iButtons", very discrete miniature loggers which can be used not only in occupied spaces but also on heating pipework (for example) to find out what is running when. You can get a starter kit (including one iButton logger and PC connectivity hardware and software) from Embedded Systems. They also sell additional iButton loggers: get part number DS1921G for temperatures up to 85°C or the more expensive DS1922T if you need to get up to 125°C.

• A light meter. An inexpensive unit will suffice, capable of working over a range of 50-2000 lux.

  Cheaper models are calibrated for incandescent light only, so their results are only approximate; more expensive models can be switched to compensate for the different characteristics of fluorescent light and daylight. The illustrated model costs about £30 but searching for a supplier today (16 Jul 08) I found it for £22 at www.digital-meters.com.

• Plug-in power meters can be used to check the consumption of appliances under 3kW rating.
• An electrical demand profile analyser would normally be used for assessing the total intake to a building. Domestic power displays such as the Efergy, Electrisave Owl or Wattson may be used for spot checks in smaller premises or on subcircuits where there is safe access to separate supply conductors. The Wattson can be connected to a PC to record the profile.
• A digital camera; and a video camera can also be useful.
• Combustion analysis kit. This is one instrument which ought to be calibrated against a traceable standard. Although relatively expensive, this is a good long-term investment because it enables poor combustion to be detected through regular checks. Always choose one with carbon monoxide measurement. If using oil or solid fuel, you will also need a smoke pump.
• Anemometer to measure air velocities especially in supply and extract ducts
• Smoke generator to detect air leaks. Alternatively, improvise with tissue-paper tell-tales or a child’s bubble maker.
• Torch for reading meters and equipment rating plates
• Stopwatch
• Pocket tape measure
• Manhole lid lifter (for access to water meter) and meter compartment keys
• Walkie-talkie radio or mobile telephones to coordinate ‘drop tests’ when one party is reading meters while another starts and stops equipment.