(Left to right) Marcus Brigstocke, Muhammad Ahmad, Luke Pulford, Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, Arif Shahab, Muhammad Mehroz, and Simon Parker.
Northumbria University’s Groundbreaking Cooling Technology Recognized at CIBSE Awards
An innovative energy-conserving cooling solution from Northumbria University has earned a prestigious accolade in the building services domain. This ground-breaking system was acknowledged with the Innovation of the Year award in the Thermal Comfort category at the 2025 Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Building Performance Awards.
The awards ceremony applauded remarkable individuals and organizations that are setting new standards for sustainability and innovation within our built environments. With global demand for air conditioning energy expected to soar threefold by 2050—putting immense pressure on power supply systems globally—the urgency for cost-effective and eco-friendly alternatives is more critical than ever.
Introducing Optimum Air Con: A Solution for Modern Cooling Needs
The Optimum Air Con system is an advanced cooling technology pioneered by EcoTechX—an entrepreneurial offshoot emerging from Northumbria University. Known as a Novel Indirect Evaporative Cooler (NIEC), this creation marks a significant advancement in cooling methodologies.
Conventional Mechanical Vapor Compression (MVC) air conditioners face multiple challenges—including substantial energy use, costly maintenance routines, and reliance on harmful refrigerants. As an alternative, Indirect Evaporative Coolers (IECs) utilize water evaporation to reduce supply air temperatures; however, these systems have their own drawbacks including subpar efficiency and high maintenance needs.
Innovations that Reshape Indoor Climate Control
Dr. Muhammad Wakil Shahzad—a leading researcher at Northumbria University and founder of EcoTechX—has dedicated over ten years to developing innovative solutions in water-based cooling technologies. He states: “Our Optimum Air Con technology overcomes the limitations associated with traditional IECs through streamlined design and enhanced airflow optimization.”
This ingenious system reliably maintains indoor temperatures around 23°C—ideal conditions not just for human comfort but also vital for equipment efficiency and overall building health. “Utilizing natural processes allows our NIEC to avoid dryness often linked with standard air conditioning units,” Dr. Shahzad elaborated., promoting a healthier living environment.
A Leap Towards Sustainable Efficiency
When it comes to energy consumption space management within buildings, NIEC offers substantial savings by using up to 65% less electricity compared with conventional systems—in turn minimizing operational costs while slashing carbon emissions significantly.
The robust design minimizes upkeep requirements which leads ultimately towards decreased long-term expenses stemming from maintenance or downtime disruptions. Furthermore, Optimum Air Con can be seamlessly incorporated into existing HVAC setups as a preliminary cooler which enhances total energy efficiency by approximately 45%
Acknowledgment from Industry Experts
This year’s submissions at CIBSE were characterized by exceptional quality underscored through innovative techniques seen across entries submitted; Optimum Air Con stood out specifically due its impressive performance metrics along with integrative designs achieving lauded outcomes across numerous property types.
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