An energy-efficient cooling system developed by scientists at Northumbria College has picked up an essential innovation award within the constructing providers sector.
Optimum Air Con – an progressive cooling system “developed in response to the worldwide local weather emergency” – was awarded Innovation of the 12 months – Thermal Consolation class on the Chartered Establishment of Constructing Providers Engineers (CIBSE) Constructing Efficiency Awards 2025.
The occasion celebrated people, organisations, merchandise and initiatives that set new benchmarks for sustainability, innovation and efficiency within the constructed setting.
With world air-conditioning vitality demand projected to triple by 2050 – inserting additional pressure on vitality grids, notably in underdeveloped international locations – the necessity for inexpensive, energy-efficient and environmentally pleasant options has by no means been extra urgent.
Optimum Air Con is a pioneering cooling system developed by EcoTechX, an instructional start-up within the technique of ‘spinning out’ from Northumbria College.
The system is called a Novel Oblique Evaporative Cooler (NIEC) and represents a major breakthrough in cooling expertise.
Conventional Mechanical Vapor Compression (MVC) air con programs current three main challenges: excessive vitality consumption, excessive upkeep prices and use of hazardous refrigerants.
Oblique Evaporative Coolers (IECs) had been later developed as a substitute for MVCs, utilising water’s evaporative potential to chill provide air. Nevertheless, there are recognized limitations with present IECs, corresponding to poor efficiency, frequent upkeep necessities and sophisticated manufacturing.
Dr Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, an Affiliate Professor at Northumbria College and Founding father of EcoTechX, has been working with a staff of researchers to develop pioneering water and cooling expertise options for the final decade. He defined: “Our Optimum Air Con system addresses the constraints of present IEC programs by means of simplified design and optimised airflow.”
Optimum Air Con ensures secure indoor temperatures, usually round 23°C, splendid for human consolation, gear efficiency, and constructing well being. “Through the use of a pure course of to chill the air, the NIEC avoids the dryness typically related to standard air con, making a extra snug and more healthy indoor setting”, added Dr Shahzad.
By way of constructing efficiency, the NIEC contributes to substantial vitality financial savings, consuming as much as 65% much less vitality in comparison with standard air con programs. This not solely lowers working prices but in addition reduces the carbon footprint of the constructing. The system’s simplicity and robustness imply minimal upkeep, lowering long-term operational prices and downtime. Moreover, Optimum Air Con will be built-in with present air con programs as a pre-cooler, additional enhancing total vitality effectivity by as much as 45%.
The CIBSE Constructing Efficiency Awards judges famous that the entries this 12 months had been of a top quality and demonstrated innovation. Optimum Air Con was praised for its wonderful efficiency which “demonstrated real innovation with broad applicability throughout property varieties and use instances”.
They had been additionally impressed by how its design built-in with present programs to reinforce effectivity and sustainability with out requiring a full alternative.
Dr Shahzad secured inner College funding, adopted by a Northern AcceleratorProof-of-Idea grant to develop a prototype of the Novel Oblique Evaporative Cooler (NIEC), which confirmed distinctive efficiency.
Dr Shahzad’s achievements earned him a spot in Innovate UK’s prestigious pre-accelerator programme, Innovation to Commercialisation of College Analysis (ICURe), enabling additional technological refinement and a complete market survey. Recognised as a number one air con expertise for sustainable cooling, the NIEC challenge received Dr Shahzad a spot on ICURE Exploit, a 12-week programme for groups beneficial for spin-out that gives intensive firm formation and enterprise development help.
This achievement paved the best way for a £2.8 million Ayrton Problem funding alternative to develop and scale up an progressive cooling resolution for Pakistan. Moreover, the ICURe Grand Scale Kick Begin program was secured to utilise Innovate UK’s community for market growth.
Work to scale-up and commercialise the patented Optimum Air Con gadget by way of upcoming spinout firm EcoTechX, which can be capable of provide communities worldwide, follows the profitable commercialisation of the staff’s Solar2Water system. The system makes use of photo voltaic vitality to extract moisture from the air and switch it into clear, protected ingesting water.
Professor Louise Bracken, Professional Vice-Chancellor for Analysis and Information Alternate at Northumbria College, mentioned: mentioned: “Northumbria’s dedication to analysis excellence supplies a supportive setting for the event of groundbreaking innovation. By means of collaborations just like the Northern Accelerator programme, analysis endeavours with industrial potential are nurtured into spinout companies, fostering financial development whereas addressing urgent world challenges.
“The profitable improvement of superior, research-informed merchandise corresponding to these developed by Dr Shahzad and his staff underscores the significance of college hyperlinks with trade which drive innovation and ship tangible options to real-world issues.”
Northumbria College ranked extremely for its engineering analysis energy within the Analysis Excellence Framework 2021, with 90 per cent of its research rated as both world-leading or internationally wonderful.
Uncover extra about Northumbria College’s Division of Mechanical and Building Engineering by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/mce. To seek out out in regards to the Optimum Air Con and Solar2Water applied sciences, go to https://ecotechx.com/
