The aim of the project was to take an innovative and strategic approach to improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock in the Southside of Glasgow by mapping: tenure, dwelling type, condition and opportunities for local engagement, to show where effort should be focussed to deliver the greatest impact. We also hoped that we could develop an inexpensive approach which other community groups tackling energy efficiency could replicate.
The project area covers Govanhill, Crosshill, Queen’s Park and Strathbungo. There are over 15,000 residents in the area. The area has a huge mix of building types and tenure. The challenge was to devise categories of buildings which made sense to both local residents and energy efficiency bodies. It was also important to demonstrate the energy inefficiency of local housing stock by taking thermal images of a range of dwelling types and matching them with the external shots to show where heat is escaping from the buildings. The report had to be a snapshot of now – both current and relevant to have any impact.
The Energy Snapshot project was devised by South Seeds and delivered in partnership by the architects, Dress for the Weather. The brief was drawn up by South Seeds and Dress for the Weather delivered the mapping, while South Seeds conducted research and took thermal images of properties. The two organisations worked collaboratively and the process took four months. The report was launched locally by Nicola Sturgeon, MSP, to an audience of local, regional and national stakeholders. It has focussed a whole range of stakeholders on the challenge of improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock of the southside of Glasgow.
The report helps both local residents and stakeholders visualise what needs to be done on both a practical level and a policy level to improve the energy efficiency of housing in the area. The maps are on Ordinance Survey base maps and can be layered with further information for subsequent updates or reports. The report has caught the eye of energy providers who have money to invest in energy efficiency measures and the City Council who also has money to invest.