Electric wallpaper is being tested in 12 Glasgow apartment blocks owned and managed by West of Scotland Housing Association to assess its effectiveness as a “clean” heat source. In the few months since the wallpaper was installed, tenants have received “excellent” feedback, The Independent reports.
Scottish homes are some of the oldest and worst insulated in Europe, with around 70,000 flats in Glasgow alone, and heating accounts for more than 36% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions. The average home loses heat three times faster than many European countries.
Electric wallpaper, which is applied to the ceiling and then painted over, hopes to be a “viable” replacement for central heating, which began being used this year, but data on energy consumption has yet to be collected.
The project, led by scientists working with the West of Scotland Housing Association and Glasgow City Council – with recent funding from Scotland Beyond Net Zero – is seen as a potential “sustainable replacement” for gas.
Dr. Ahmad Taha from the University of Glasgow and Dr. Alejandro Moreno-Rangel from the University of Strathclyde are working with technology, including the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence-based data analytics, to gather information on efficiency, comfort and feedback from residents.
Funded by Scotland Beyond Net Zero – a coalition of leading climate and sustainability experts from Scotland’s universities – the trial is one of eight new research collaborations aiming to move towards net zero.
Andrew Kubski, Director of Development and Asset Management at West of Scotland Housing Association, said:
“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, responsible for community and property services at Glasgow City Council, added:
“Glasgow has around 70,000 tenement flats, so finding new solutions to more efficiently heating 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, Deputy Director of Research at the University of Dundee and Chair of the Scotland Beyond Net Zero programme 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.”
