Electric wallpaper is being tested as an eco-friendly alternative to central heating in social housing properties across Glasgow. Scottish homes, including the roughly 70,000 tenement flats in Glasgow alone, are some of the most poorly insulated in Europe. Heating homes contributes significantly to the UK’s carbon emissions, amounting to over 36% of total emissions in the UK.
The average home loses heat three times faster than in many European countries. To tackle this issue, 12 Glasgow tenements managed by West of Scotland Housing Association are trialling electric wallpaper and evaluating its effectiveness as a “clean” heat source. Applied to ceilings and painted over, the innovative heating method aims to become a “viable” alternative to traditional central heating systems.
While data on energy consumption is yet to be gathered, tenants have already reported “excellent” feedback. Dr Ahmad Taha of the University of Glasgow and Dr Alejandro Moreno-Rangel from the University of Strathclyde are spearheading a pioneering approach utilising technologies like the internet of things (IoT) and AI-enabled data analytics to gather insights on efficiency, comfort, and resident feedback.
IoT enables integrated networks of physical objects to pass information and data between them using the internet. Funded by the coalition Scotland Beyond Net Zero, which groups top climate and sustainability experts from Scottish universities, this initiative is one of eight innovative research collaborations directed at the net zero transition.
Andrew Kubski, the director of development and asset management for West of Scotland Housing Association, has praised the new tech: “We have been trialling this technology for a few months now and have had excellent feedback from our tenants where this has been installed. We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with both the University of Glasgow and University of Strathclyde to bring a thorough academic lens to the effectiveness of the electric wallpaper.”
Councillor Ruairi Kelly, convener for neighbourhood services and assets at Glasgow City Council, added: “Glasgow has around 70,000 tenement flats, so finding new solutions to more efficiently heat them is vital to reaching a net-zero future. Innovative pilot projects such as this are vital when considering how best to help tackle the issues of energy costs and emissions in Glasgow’s homes.”
Professor Lisanne Gibson, vice-principal of research at the University of Dundee and chair of Scotland Beyond Net Zero’s seed fund committee, said: “Scotland’s ambitious net-zero targets demand a bold and integrated approach. These projects are a crucial step in our journey towards a more sustainable and equitable future, not just for Scotland, but globally.”