Electric wallpaper is being piloted in 12 tenement properties in Glasgow to assess its effectiveness as a clean heat source, as part of a project led by the University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde, West of Scotland Housing Association and Glasgow City Council – with recent funding from Scotland Beyond Net Zero.

Scotland’s homes are among the oldest in the world and the worst insulated in Europe, which contributes to their high carbon footprint. Heating buildings is a major contributor to carbon emissions in Scotland and across the UK, accounting for more than 36% of total emissions. The average Scottish home loses heat three times faster than homes in many European countries, and gas central heating – which relies on fossil fuels – is the most common heating system.

Dr Ahmad Taha from the University of Glasgow and Dr Alejandro Moreno-Rangel from the University of Strathclyde are working with West of Scotland Housing Association and Glasgow City Council to explore the feasibility of electric wallpaper as a viable, eco-friendly replacement for gas central heating. The technology, which uses the Internet-of-Things and AI-enabled data analytics to collect information on efficiency, comfort, and tenant’s feedback, is being piloted in properties owned and managed by West of Scotland Housing Association.

Andrew Kubski, Director of Development and Asset Management for 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, 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 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.”

Funded by Scotland Beyond Net Zero – a coalition of leading climate and sustainability experts from Scotland's universities – this trial is one of eight new research collaborations aimed at accelerating Scotland’s transition to net zero. Each project involves cross-sector collaborations to address sustainability challenges in energy, finance, food, the built environment, natural systems, and transport.

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. The seed fund was designed to strengthen cross-institutional research partnerships between Scotland’s universities and external organisations, including community groups, government bodies, and the private sector. This will ensure robust research directly informs industry practice and innovation.

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

Other funded projects include a collaboration between the University of St Andrews and the University of Aberdeen, working with a Scottish SME to study hydrogen energy production from plastic waste. This project aims to reduce waste from plastics and advance the development of a circular energy economy.

A project, involving the Wester Ross UNESCO Biosphere, Dundee City Council, Dundee International Women’s Centre, working with the University of Edinburgh and the University of Dundee will explore the lived experiences of women in deprived communities in Tayside and will use the findings to inform a just transition in Scotland.

Scotland Beyond Net Zero:

Scotland Beyond Net Zero is a collaboration of leading climate and sustainability experts from across Scotland's universities. The collaborative network pools research, data and expertise to facilitate local action and impact global change for net zero. By working in synergy with external agencies and industry, SBNZ aims to maximise positive impact and go beyond net zero.

Scotland Beyond Net Zero members are:

 

Further information about the UofG funded projects:

Electric Wallpaper Evaluation via Cyber-Physical Systems for Clean Heating: A Pilot Study

  • Collaboration between: University of Glasgow and University of Strathclyde
  • SBNZ theme: Built environment; energy

Project summary: The UK's homes are among the oldest in the world and the worst insulated in Europe, which contributes to their high carbon footprint. The average UK home loses heat three times faster than, e.g., a German property. Heating in homes and buildings is a major contributor to carbon emissions in Scotland and the UK. In the UK, heating accounts for about 37% of the total carbon emissions, with three quarters of that coming from homes.

In Scotland, occupied buildings account for 13% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions, and around 30% of its total energy consumption. Gas central heating is the most common type of heating in Scotland, with 84% of households using a gas or oil boiler as their primary source of heat. Mains gas is the most common fossil fuel used for heating homes. However, more than one million homes in Scotland are not connected to the gas grid and use electric heating or other alternative fuels.

The Scottish New Build Heat Standard (NBHS) requires new buildings and limited conversions that apply for a building warrant from April 1, 2024, to use climate-friendly heating systems. Electric Wallpaper (EWP) is gaining significant attention as an innovative replacement to gas central heating, Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP), and alternative clean heating mechanisms.

West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) are piloting the use of NexGen EWP technology in 12 tenemental properties to test the effectiveness of this innovative new clean heating product. This project therefore aims to conduct a pilot study to evaluate the performance of EWP technology in pre 1919 tenements in Glasgow using cutting edge monitoring technology empowered by the Internet-of-Things and AI-enabled data analytics. Data will be collected via a smart sensor system from 12 tenemental properties, owned by WSHA, that already have EWP installed and advanced analytics and forecasting will be applied to generate insights on heating levels, heat retention, and energy consumption taking into account tenants’ comfort level and feedback. 

Beyond Net Zero: A Framework for Natural Capital Markets in the Marine Environment   

  • Collaboration between: University of Glasgow; University of St Andrews
  • SBNZ theme: Finance; natural systems

This project is a new strategic partnership between academics at the University of Glasgow and the collective Scottish marine science community of MASTS, with the ambition to become the leading scientific expertise on the development of Marine Natural Capital Markets, supported by policy and practice partners NatureScot. Scotland’s marine environment is vital for climate regulation and carbon storage.

It supports rich biodiversity with cultural, social, economic, and scientific benefits to coastal communities and Scotland as a whole. Natural capital markets are rapidly emerging, promising to leverage private finance to sustain and enhance these benefits, by supporting much-needed restoration and conservation efforts. The nascent development of marine natural capital markets would benefit from independent and rigorous science to ensure their design and implementation benefits both the environment and society. Poorly designed natural capital markets can cause irreversible environmental damage, loss of market trust, and other unintended consequences for social and environmental justice. We have already seen on land how quickly these markets can grow, often outpacing the research and regulatory landscape needed to guide them responsibly. 

We will develop an interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder partnership to form a Scotland-wide “Marine Natural Capital Markets” working group, embedded within the marine science community through MASTS to ensure durable, long-term collaboration. This partnership between environmental economists, marine scientists and conservationists will develop a framework for how private investment into the restoration and conservation of the marine environment can truly deliver ecologically and socio-economically beneficial outcomes.

We will address a crucial gap by applying lessons from land-based natural capital markets; while understanding the differences between land and sea (e.g. ownership, rights), we will adapt successful strategies to tackle similar issues in the marine environment. This foundational work will pave the way for future research tailored to marine ecosystems, accelerating the transition to a sustainable, nature-rich, net zero marine environment.   

 

First published: 17 October 2024

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