Who we are

HeatHack is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation regulated by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, registration SC054622.

Helping people improve their heating controls is a big part of what we do - our prize find so far is a modern building that had been heated 24/7 for 10 years accidentally - but we also help people think about with the choice between space heating and radiant systems, zoning, energy efficiency retrofits, and changes to increase occupancy so they can afford to maintain and heat the building. Our goal is to equip community groups with buildings to have the right conversations with the right professionals to make changes that suit their circumstances. Part of that is making sure they have good techniques for getting their community to talk about change. The social side of making change happen is just as important as the technical choices.

HeatHack started as a group of volunteers helping Edinburgh community groups and churches understand how to save energy and still have comfortable buildings. In 2010, it was just Jean Carletta and an engineer who saw her looking at the heating controls scratching their heads over some interesting problems in an Edinburgh church. We understand the things community groups find difficult because that’s where we come from - we had to learn everything from scratch to do our work. We have always combined a bit of technology for temperature and energy monitoring with an engineering mindset and a lot of thinking about what people do when they are in buildings.

Our main programme was developed with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious programme when we were hosted by The Surefoot Effect, a Community Interest Company. Initially it was used by 35 charities from across the UK with secular and sacred buildings from all eras. Engineers without Borders UK helped us place volunteer engineers with the original participants, and although anyone can use our materials, we still suggest groups look for a local engineering volunteer as they often bring new insights to their building. Our programme now underpins the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Net Zero efforts and is promoted by a range of Climate Action Networks, funders, and other stakeholders that support the charity sector.

Our heating controls interventions are informed by a pilot project funded by the Glasgow City Heritage Trust. We are grateful to the University of St Andrews Community Fund for funding a project by Greener Kirkcaldy to help community groups in Fife, as well as to the Scottish Episcopal Church and several Climate Action Networks for funding community group training workshops.

HeatHack was previously funded by the John Templeton Foundation via Scientists in Congregations Scotland, with small contributions from the University of Edinburgh Schools of Informatics and Engineering and the University of St Andrews School of Computer Science and with the help of engineering, computer science, and design students.

Engineers Without Borders UK is working to reach the tipping point to ensure a safe and just future for all. Part of a global movement of over 60 Engineers Without Borders organisations, we inspire, upskill and drive change in the engineering community and together take action to put global responsibility at the heart of engineering.

Harnessing the power of engineering and technology to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone.