A greener future

Understand how our historic places can lead the way to an energy efficient future. After all, the greenest building is the one that already exists.

Our historic past can help create a green, low carbon Scotland.

The places where we live, work and play not only offer distinct local identities, but can also show the way to an energy efficient future. 

The pandemic has spurred on a new 21st century attitude to our homes, with many now doubling as office spaces. With a rise in greener methods of travel and small eco-friendly changes to day-to-day ways of life, there is hope for the future.

By 2045, Scotland will transition to net-zero and our historic environment will play a key role in reaching this goal.

Before you enter the competition, why not browse the images below or explore submitted entries in the other climate heritage themes.

Photography

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A young girl with a wicker basket on her back filled with bundles of sticks Sharing the old ways with the new generation by Historic Environment Scotland Wind turbines on the move with a distant windfarm on the Ayrshire Coast in the background. More Wind Power by David Inglis A Norse Mill and Wind Turbine on the Isle of Lewis near Siabost Dheas Past and present: harvesting energy by John Wilson A bee keeper holds a wooden frame covered in wax, honey and bees. Plan Bee at Stirling Castle by Historic Environment Scotland A stone panda sits facing away from a large pond, trees reflect in the water and a stone platform sits with rice in front of the panda Cowden Japanese Garden - Dollar by kayleigh Kerr Planting new trees and reaping the wind for power near Muirkirk Ayrshire. Muirkirk Windfarm. by David Inglis Car tyres covered in frost, with the green and red glow of the aurora borealis in the sky. Man versus Nature by Martin Laird The old chimney on the garden shed, now taken over by beautiful pink clematis. Still Beautiful by Blanche Haddow A road sign outside Glenelg announcing that it is twinned with Glenelg on Mars. Plan B? by William McLachlan The River Ayr is being used to power a generator which will supply electricity for Ayrshire College and the National Grid.al Tapping River Power by David Inglis A close up of a peacock butterfly sitting on the edge of a flower Peacock Butterfly - Hill of Tarvit by kayleigh Kerr A young boy sits and smiles at the camera, proudly holding up a large pine cone Look what I found Gran by Elizabeth Henry The columns for wind turbines at Wick Harbour awaiting transportation to and installation in the North Sea Untitled by Douglas May Wind turbines at work in the hills above Inverbervie The Road Ahead is Renewable by Tom Campbell Close up of a fluffy bee sitting on a large blue flower. Dirleton Castle Gardens by Historic Environment Scotland

Mobile photography

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A girl stands on the top of a snow covered hill and looks out towards the city. The World Is In Our Hands by Morgan James A landscape showing cleitean on St Kilda with healthy or damaged roofs and the new MOD base with it's green roof designed to replicate a cleit roof The roof over your head by Clare Henderson A flower stands protected by a glass dome from the harsh weather (rain) battering against it. April Showers by Cerys James The picture is the road from stone to forest to environmentally friendly energy and a clear blue sky Untitled by John Reid A heavily sunlit scenescape composed of coastal cliffs and coarse, light grass framing a view looking out over a pale sea A Brighter Future by Carson Haggart A torrent races down a burn, crashing against the rocks and is surrounded by trees. Keeping Up with the Current by Cerys James This image "Weather is changing" describes, how climate change has already affected Scotland, by the storm cloud in the middle of a supposedly sunny d Weather is Changing by Anya Hutchinson Ruins of Slains Castle corridor, the walls have vibrant green weeds growing at their base Nature Reclaims by Carson Haggart A huge, grand historic house with trees in the foreground Let nature in by Rose Henderson An image on the beach, with a pool of water surrounded by rocks and algae and crisp white clouds overlooking. A Cleaner Planet by Cerys James A gardener's cottage covered with flowering shrub at Colonsay House Gardener's cottage, Colonsay by Rebecca Cadie A photograph of the crags at sunrise on the edge looking over Edinburgh A bright awakening by Anna Cruden The sun rising and the light of a new day shinning through the trees of the woods An Autumn Morning by Kayleigh Kerr In this image, it explains how our future is renewable energy and that there is still hope. Blue skies coming our way by Claudia Hutchinson

Artwork

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Scottish East Coast is painted depicting devastation and a lack of life, prayer leafs depict the change .we are forced to be creative and optimistic. Wind of Change by Lisa Wallace The traditional landscapes of the Outer Hebrides adapt to sustainable ways of life like beekeeping, rewilding, and solar and wind farms. Land Use in The Outer Hebrides by Julia Clough The Forth Bridge, partially submerged in water, with floating piers on either side Floating piers off a future Forth Rail Bridge by Historic Environment Scotland (Wynne McLeish, Esquisse Challenge 2014) A seascape made up of recycled material A symbol of hope by Sunday Club, Temple Anniesland Church Environmental sustainable sculpture. Bird Santuary made of Wattle & Daub w wild bird seed Queen Glumdalca Bird Santuary by Kathy Bruce The image shows a woman looking out a hospital room window with her granddaughter to see a green futuristic city scape. For the next generations by Layla Karic Natural sustainable sculpture in situ for a greener environment Sodmound Maiden by Kathy Bruce