Electric wallpapers tested as an alternative to central…

Electric wallpaper might sound like a crazy idea from Willy Wonka.

But it has become a reality in Glasgow, where 12 houses have been decorated with the futuristic decor.

Electric wallpaper is applied to the ceiling and painted over and can heat an entire room in just 1-3 minutes.

Scientists at the University of Glasgow hope it will provide a greener – and cheaper – alternative to central heating.

Andrew Kubski, director of development and asset management at West of Scotland Housing Association, said: “We have been trialling this technology for a number of months now and have had excellent feedback from our tenants where it has been installed.”

Scottish homes are among the oldest and most poorly insulated in Europe, with the average home losing heat three times faster than in many European countries.

In fact, heating is currently responsible for more than 36 percent of total CO2 emissions in the UK.

To reduce the need for such extensive central heating, the West of Scotland Housing Association is trialling electric wallpaper in 12 tenements in Glasgow.

The wallpaper is the brainchild of NexGen Heating, which describes it as an “electric far-infrared heating system.”

“NexGen is an “electric wallpaper” that attaches to the ceiling,” the company explains on its website.

“It is very different from traditional convection heating and utilizes the physics of far infrared – the warmth and power of sunlight.”

“Infrared is simply a low-energy form of light.” It is invisible to our eyes, but we feel it when gentle sunlight hits our skin.

“NexGen’s infrared light is emitted from the entire ceiling – a huge area – and can therefore deliver a lot of energy quickly.”

The paper itself is only a fraction of a millimeter thick and is both fireproof and water resistant.

There are electrical connections at each end of the paper that are not visible after installation.

“Each sheet of paper is connected to an extremely low voltage power supply (24 volts),” NexGen explained.

“The lightweight cables run from each blade to a transformer, usually in a central cabinet or closet.”

“The robust transformers are attached to the walls with safety screws and are designed to last for years without maintenance – like the rest of the system, they come with a 15-year guarantee.”

Like any simple ceiling wallpaper, it is simply stuck to the ceiling and can be painted over.

When turned on, the electric wallpaper evenly distributes heat throughout the room. NexGen describes the warmth as “the feeling of feeling gentle sunshine on your skin.”

Best of all, the electric wallpaper only takes 1-3 minutes to heat up an entire room, so there’s no need for a long warm-up period.

“This means you can turn off the heating all day when you are out and heat the bedrooms for just a few minutes before bed,” NexGen added.

“It’s much more efficient and reduces bills and carbon emissions. ‘Only heat it when you need it!’

While pricing remains unclear, NexGen says there is a “low upfront cost and cost-effective installation.”

MailOnline has contacted the company for further information.

So far only 12 houses in Glasgow have been fitted with the wallpaper.

However, if the attempt is successful, the wallpaper could be rolled out wider.

Councilor Ruairi Kelly, Neighborhood Services and Facilities Officer at Glasgow City Council, added: “Glasgow has around 70,000 rental homes, so finding new solutions to heat these homes more efficiently is vital to a net zero future to reach.”

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