Winter has arrived for us here in the northern hemisphere and it’s time to turn on the heat. The problem is that many of us are using more heat than necessary due to thermal leaks. This new Thermal Leak Detector from Black & Decker could potentially save up to 20 percent in energy costs by pointing out areas where your home is losing heat.

The $40 device shines a blue spotlight on temperature changes as small as 1 degree.  Then you will have to work on sealing (caulking) the leak, but this device could save you time and money by pointing out exactly which areas you need to work on.

The bad news is that Black & Decker’s Thermal Leak Detector will not be available for purchase until Spring 2009. So you can either use it to make sure your house is sealed for next winter, or use it to make a difference to your air conditioning bills this summer.