THE HEAT is on to find Haringey s biggest energy wasters using a new aerial map produced by a spy plane. The council has published the results of its survey to pinpoint homes losing excessive energy. But it looks like locals will have the last laugh after

THE HEAT is on to find Haringey's biggest energy wasters using a new aerial map produced by a spy plane.

The council has published the results of its survey to pinpoint homes losing excessive energy.

But it looks like locals will have the last laugh after the map revea-led the Civic Centre on Wood Green High Road is actually losing more heat now than seven years ago.

Green campaigner Peter Budge from Nelson Road said: "I think it's absolutely terrible. The council should get its own act together.

"The map is a fantastic idea and we need to get everyone to do this but the council needs to practise what it preaches."

The recent £21,000 study follows a similar initiative in 2000, when a small plane was sent up to photograph the whole of London.

It flew over the borough at 1,500 feet above ground level in March capturing images of heat loss above 16 degrees. Properties with good insulation show up as a cool blue colour, whilst red hot areas are losing too much heat.

When it was snapped in 2000 the Civic Centre was mainly orange with some yellow areas. The latest pictures show it glowing orange with some red areas, marking it out as a major hotspot.

Housing chief Cllr Isidoros Diakides said: "The two surveys were conducted under different conditions, by different companies using different equipment, which means that the results are not directly comparable.

"Although this survey provides a single snapshot of heat loss on a certain day, at a certain time, it would be useful to most people to see whether they lose too much heat and explore ways of reducing heat loss and their costs.

"This applies to all buildings, including business premises and, of course, the council's own offices and stock.

"I want to also make it clear that there are no plans whatsoever to adopt a prescriptive approach towards any residents or businesses. The main purpose of the exercise is to encourage and help people make their own decisions and think about getting sound advice.