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I have written about the forward-looking inhabitants of the city before - you may recall the article on Strathclyde Fire Authority - and now Glasgow City Council has come up with a couple of initiatives to drive the energy-saving process further, in conjunction with IES (Integrated Environmental Solutions), which is headquartered in the city.

The first is a new energy app that is being offered to Glasgow residents to help them cut their energy bills by making their houses - with the council's help - become more energy efficient.

HOW THE APP WORKS
Glasgow residents are being offered the chance to compare their home’s energy use to similar properties and get tips on how to make it more efficient. They can download a new free app from Future City Glasgow - software developed in conjunction with IES - which could help households cut their energy bills and save cash.

City residents who input information about the type of building they live in, the types of energy they use and their energy consumption will receive information on similar properties for comparison. If it shows their home could perform better, they will be able to access advice about steps they could take to improve it. Information will also be available about possible sources of grants to help fund the work.

The app can also be used by businesses to evaluate their premises. It is one element of Glasgow City Council's drive to give people access to affordable energy, cut carbon emissions and secure sustainable energy supplies.

The council is also setting up an energy services company to foster and oversee the creation of district heating projects in the city, similar to the one at the Athletes Village - the accommodation provided for visiting athletes for the recent Commonwealth Games. That system will heat the 700 new East End homes, as well as the neighbouring Emirates Arena. The local authority already has a 3MW wind turbine at Cathkin Braes, with the prospect of more at other sites.

Future City Glasgow is also scoping vacant and derelict sites in the city to assess their suitability for use as mini solar farms.

Most importantly, data supplied by Glasgow Energy app users will help build up a more detailed picture of the type of energy used in different properties across the city and how energy efficient the buildings are.

This data will help create a 3D energy model of the city and identify areas that would benefit the most from technologies suh as district heating systems or solar panels.

As councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of the city council and chair of Future City Glasgow, points out: "Despite recent reductions, energy bills still represent a major outlay for everyone, and are especially worrying for the elderly and those on low incomes. Ensuring city residents have access to affordable energy is a priority for the council. This new app will help people find out if there are steps they can take to help make their homes warmer, while cutting their bills."

Future City Glasgow chose to work with IES to ensure the app used the latest technology. IES is internationally recognised as an expert in 3D simulation technology for making buildings and communities more sustainable.

Don McLean, IES founder and managing director, comments: "For cities to manage an ever-increasing influx of people, they must become smarter, more energy efficient and sustainable. Working with Future City Glasgow has allowed us to apply our unique technology to help the city manage its energy consumption and integrate renewables.

"We are very excited to see the results as more and more people use the app."

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