As winter heating bills soar and the ancient walls of British homes continue to let in the cold, every news story about a breakthrough in this field sparks keen interest. What if, to make your home cozy, you didn’t need a massive radiator or a gas boiler, but just a thin, flexible material on the ceiling? Scotland is already trying to answer this question in practice, launching “electric wallpaper” as an alternative to outdated systems. Can such innovation transform the face of home technology and solve the problem of CO2 emissions?
Scotland’s historic housing stock is older than most of its European counterparts. According to government data, about 70,000 flats in Glasgow were built before the mid-20th century. Old houses lose heat about three times faster than modern buildings, which creates two interrelated challenges: energy inefficiency and unreasonable heating expenses.
Research shows that 84% of home heating systems use gas boilers or other fossil fuel installations. Such dependence leads to high CO2 emissions. Heating buildings in the UK alone accounts for over 36% of all carbon dioxide emissions, notes the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
In response, the Scottish government is implementing climate standards such as NBHS, requiring new buildings to switch to “green” technologies. But what about flats that are over a century old, where the capacity of standard solutions is insufficient?
Electric wallpaper is a thin and flexible material woven with copper strips and particles of graphene or carbon. This layered “sandwich” can conduct electricity, generating infrared radiation that is invisible to the eye but perceptible to the body. It heats the room in the same way as sunlight: gently, evenly, without drying out the air or causing drafts.
Installation requires minimal effort. The sheets are glued to the ceiling—a process reminiscent of installing regular wallpaper, though technically it is more like laying underfloor heating, but upwards. The advantage of the technology lies in its rapid heating: it takes just 1–3 minutes to start working, claims NextGen Heating, the company developing the innovation.
Unlike standard convectors, infrared heat does not stir up dust and helps reduce dampness. According to experts, such conditions help reduce mold formation and improve the indoor climate.
A pilot project has started in Glasgow, where 12 flats built before 1919 have already been equipped with electric wallpaper. Project partners include the University of Glasgow, the University of Strathclyde, the city council, and the West of Scotland Housing Association. Centralized funding is provided by the Scotland Beyond Net Zero coalition, which brings together leading climate experts.
Digital technologies are used to test efficiency. The system is equipped with Internet of Things sensors that collect information on heat loss, energy consumption, and residents’ comfort levels. Special attention is paid to user feedback. Andrew Kubsky, Director of Development and Asset Management at the Housing Association, notes: “We have been testing this technology for several months and have received excellent feedback from our tenants where it has been installed.”
Residents report that rooms heat up quickly even after prolonged airing. However, researchers emphasize that more time is needed for definitive conclusions about durability and economic efficiency.
Electric wallpaper promises to reduce CO2 emissions by switching to electricity, especially if it comes from renewable sources. Compared to gas boilers and bulky radiators, such a system requires minimal maintenance and virtually no additional space.
The advantages include:
- Fast and even heating
- Simplicity and speed of installation
- Possibility of targeted replacement and repair
- Improvement of the indoor climate
However, important questions remain unanswered. The cost of implementation is still higher than standard solutions, and the durability of materials is assessed by experts only for the coming years. Adaptation to different types of buildings also requires comprehensive research. Professor Lisanna Gibson, Deputy Director of Research at the University of Dundee, comments: “These projects are a crucial step towards a sustainable future worldwide.”
Glasgow’s experience may prove in demand in other regions with similar climatic and architectural challenges. For example, cities in Northern Europe, where old housing and damp weather prevail, face similar energy-saving problems.
Similar principles of infrared heating are already being implemented in commercial buildings in Germany and the Netherlands, and the technology is attracting interest from various sectors, including transport and social infrastructure. Scaling up such solutions will lead to a revision of building and energy standards in a number of countries.
It is easy to see how, over time, digitalization is covering more and more aspects of life. In the past, for example, to eat restaurant food, you had to get ready and go to the restaurant, but now you can order delivery with just a couple of clicks. You can now watch movies at home, and there is no need to go to gambling clubs to play slot machines, since you can register at one of the online casinos, such as 1Win, Pin Up, or Melbet here and get the same experience, but in more convenient conditions for you.
Switching to clean energy sources in the residential sector remains a key challenge for sustainable development. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), residential heating accounts for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions. New technologies can reduce not only the burden on the climate, but also improve quality of life: preventing dampness and mold reduces the risk of chronic diseases, and cleaner air has a positive effect on overall health.
Residents of the pilot homes share their personal impressions. The McGregor family from Glasgow says: “We used to freeze even with the radiator on, but now the house warms up almost instantly.” Others note the quiet and lack of smell, which is unusual compared to classic systems.
Could you have imagined earlier having warmth in a room without the noise of water and the hum of a boiler? Now this is becoming a reality.
Plans to expand trials have already been announced at the level of city authorities and universities. In the coming years, the system will be tested in new types of housing and social infrastructure facilities. According to experts, it is necessary to thoroughly address issues of standardization, life cycle assessment of materials, and the impact on household energy balance.
It is expected that further research will provide the necessary data on the reliability and economic efficiency of the technology. As experts admit, questions remain, but each new winter in old homes adds incentives for the development of such solutions.