‘Electric wallpaper’ is used as an alternative to central heating in British homes

Electric wallpaper is being trialled as an environmentally friendly alternative to central heating in social housing across Glasgow. Scottish homes, including the approximately 70,000 rental apartments in Glasgow alone, are among the worst insulated in Europe.

Heating homes is a significant contributor to the UK’s carbon emissions, accounting for over 36% of total UK emissions. The average home loses heat three times faster than in many European countries.

To address this issue, twelve tenements in Glasgow managed by the West of Scotland Housing Association are testing electric wallpaper and assessing its effectiveness as a ‘clean’ heat source. The innovative heating method is installed and painted over ceilings and is intended to become a “viable” alternative to traditional central heating systems.

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While energy consumption data has not yet been collected, tenants have already reported “excellent” feedback. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest Welsh news straight to your inbox

Dr. Ahmad Taha from the University of Glasgow and Dr. Alejandro Moreno-Rangel from the University of Strathclyde are at the forefront of a groundbreaking approach that leverages technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI-powered data analytics to gain insights into efficiency, comfort and resident feedback. IoT enables integrated networks of physical objects to transfer information and data between them over the Internet.

This initiative is funded by the Scotland Beyond Net Zero coalition, which brings together leading climate and sustainability experts from Scottish universities. It is one of eight innovative research collaborations focused on the transition to net zero. Andrew Kubski, director of development and asset management at West of Scotland Housing Association, praised the new technology: “We have been testing this technology for a number of months now and have had excellent feedback from our tenants where it has been installed.”

“We welcome the opportunity to work with the University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde to conduct comprehensive scientific research into the effectiveness of electric wallpaper.” Councilor Ruairi Kelly, Glasgow City Council’s Neighborhood Services and Facilities Officer, added: “There are around 70,000 rental homes in Glasgow, so finding new solutions to heat these homes more efficiently is crucial to achieving a net zero future.”

“Innovative pilot projects like this are vital in determining how best to address the issues of energy costs and emissions in Glasgow’s homes.” Professor Lisanne Gibson, deputy head of research at the University of Dundee and chair of Scotland’s Seed Funds Committee Beyond Net Zero, said: “Scotland’s ambitious net zero targets require a bold and integrated approach.”

“These projects are a crucial step in our journey towards a more sustainable and fair future, not just for Scotland but globally.”