Dancers captured with an infrared camera

SWG3 has switched on a system that creates renewable energy from the body heat on its dance floor.

Dancers' heat is piped via a carrier fluid to 200m of bore holes that can be charged as a thermal battery.

When the energy is upgraded to a suitable temperature, it goes back into SWG3.

The venue's carbon emissions will be reduced by about 70 metric ton of CO2 a year, thanks to this.

When you start dancing, medium pace, to the Rolling Stones or something, you might be generating 250W.

If you have a big DJ that makes everyone jump up and down, you could be generating 500 to 600 watt of thermal energy.

SWG3 was committed to achieving "net-zero" carbon emissions by the year 2025.

He said that someone has to be the first investment.

The thermal heating and cooling system cost over half a million dollars to be installed.

If we were to go down a more conventional route with air conditioning, it would cost about 10% of that.

The savings on energy bills will make the investment worthwhile in the long run.

Image source, Michael Hunter
Image caption, Dancing the Slosh at SWG3

"If we can make it work here in this environment, there's no reason why we can't take it to other places," Mr Fleming-Brown said.

He wants to open a nightclub in Berlin.

He said they showed a lot of interest.

They don't want to be beaten at cool clubs.

They want it in Berlin, because they've seen what we did in Glasgow.

"Heating water requires a lot of energy and it gives up that energy fairly slowly - so when you put that heat into the ground, it's fairly well insulated."

It's a good way to store the power. You may lose a few degrees as the equilibrium wears off.

Energy transformation and heat are the key things here. It means you are making the system more efficient by saving heat. Carbon zero is a powerful way of reducing our demand on energy.

If you can get it from dancers' body heat, that's great.

It is possible to affect the energy crisis in the UK by playing it back and storing the heat.

This is a great move.

The Scottish government has supported bodyheat with grant funding.

"This is a fantastic scheme, where people really are making Glasgow greener, while having a great time," said the convener for climate.

The innovative approach to reducing emissions and energy use at SWG3 is an example of how we can all play our part in Glasgow becoming a net-zero city.

  • Dance
  • Glasgow
  • Renewable energy