Glasgow is testing eco-friendly electric wallpaper to heat its aging homes

Could electric wallpaper one day replace your gas boiler?

A European city is testing this innovative method to decarbonize homes and reduce energy costs.

It is currently being tested in twelve tenements in the Scottish city of Glasgow to assess its effectiveness as a clean heat source.

The project is a collaboration between the University of Glasgow, the University of Strathclyde, the West of Scotland Housing Association and Glasgow City Council.

Why do Scottish homes need to be decarbonised?

The houses in Scotland are among the oldest and worst in Europe isolated. On average, they lose heat three times faster than their European counterparts.

This means their heating systems have to work overtime to keep them warm – and lose a lot of energy in the process. Powered by fossil fuels Central heating is used in 84 percent of Scottish homes, which also releases large amounts of CO2.

Heating Building is responsible for more than 36 per cent of the UK’s total carbon emissions – something Scotland is trying to tackle with the Scottish New Build Heat Standard (NBHS).

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It was launched in April and requires new buildings to be used in a climate-friendly manner Heating systems – and electric wallpaper could be a key piece of the puzzle.

“Glasgow has around 70,000 rental properties, allowing us to find new solutions more efficiently Heating They are vital to achieving a net zero future,” says Councilor Ruairi Kelly, Glasgow City Council.

“Innovative pilot projects like this are vital in determining how best to address the issues of energy costs and emissions in Glasgow’s homes.”

How can electric wallpaper heat houses more sustainably?

Researchers are examining the possibility of replacing gas Heating with environmentally friendly electric wallpaper.

This type of wallpaper combines copper strips and graphene or carbon to create a thin surface that can conduct electricity. It radiates invisibly Infraredwhich provides a gas-free heat source and is also intended to improve air quality in residential buildings, resulting in less moisture and mold.

Attached to the ceiling, the wallpaper can be installed quickly and easily. According to developer NextGen Heating, it can provide heat within one to three minutes, making it ideal for difficult to heat Characteristics.

The project, funded by Scotland Beyond Net Zero – a coalition of leading climate and sustainability experts from Scottish universities – will be tested in tenements built before 1919.

Are electric wallpapers an effective heat source?

To monitor its effectiveness, the technology uses the Internet of Things and AI enabled Data analysis to collect efficiency information, including heat storage and energy consumption. Tenants also provide feedback on the level of comfort provided by the heat source.

So far the signs are good.

“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,” says Andrew Kubski, director of development and asset management at West of Scotland Housing Association.

It is just one of eight new research collaborations aimed at driving Scotland’s transition Net zero. The projects address sustainability challenges in everything from buildings and transport to energy, finance, food and natural systems.

“These projects are a crucial step on our way to more sustainable and a fair future, not just for Scotland but globally,” says Professor Lisanne Gibson, Associate Director of Research at the University of Dundee and Chair of the Scotland Beyond Net Zero Seed Fund Committee.