Drones with Pricey Cameras Help University Identify Energy Efficiency Projects Recent Articles (Credit: UMass Lowell) Drones equipped with infrared cameras can be used to create thermal maps that show where buildings or underground steam pipes are losing heat and costing organizations money and that can help identify energy efficiency projects. They could “potentially be a game-changer in terms of doing energy audits on a large, rapid scale,” says Christopher Niezrecki, Mechanical Engineering Professor and Department Chair at UMass Lowell. Faculty and student researchers from the university’s Department of Mechanical Engineering are working on a pilot project they say will help the university identify and prioritize cost-saving repairs and energy-efficiency projects on campus.