University cleantech company wins double award

Press release from the University of Cambridge

e-stack, the innovative low energy ventilation system company, took two awards at the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) Energy Innovation Awards 2008 held in Norwich on 6th February. The cleantech spin-out from the BP Institute at the University of Cambridge received the top accolade and also became the first winner of the new the Low Carbon Trophy, launched this year.

Reducing the energy consumption of our built environment is vital if the UK is to meet its emissions targets.  e-stack emerged from a project established by the Cambridge-MIT Institute and backed by a development grant from BP in 2001. The project’s objective was to design buildings that utilise natural ventilation and thereby consume less energy. In order to commercialise the technology invented, e-stack incorporated as a company in 2006.

The eco-friendly ventilation system that e-stack has created can reduce energy consumption by up to 50%. The system has been successfully installed at Queen Alexandra College (Birmingham) and Unity College (Northampton), and during the first quarter of 2008 systems have already been delivered to St Neots Primary, Cambridgeshire, Pilgrim School, Rochester, Kent and Port Regis School, Dorset.

The e-stack® ventilation system provides low energy ventilation in winter, while preventing the formation of cold draughts in the interior space. This enables interior spaces to remain thermally comfortable but also replenished with fresh air to keep CO2 levels low. The system has many applications, including school classrooms and halls, theatres and auditoria, but can also be used to provide low energy ventilation for office buildings and houses.

Shaun Fitzgerald, Managing Director of e-stack, said: “The two EEEGR 2008 Awards are an endorsement of the fact that the e-stack technology is highly innovative and will play a major part in reducing the carbon emissions from buildings, which are currently responsible for ~50% of the total carbon footprint in developed countries.

Cambridge Enterprise Limited, University of Cambridge, helped Shaun Fitzgerald and Professor Andrew Woods from the BP Institute to establish e-stack, and on behalf of CMI facilitated and negotiated the licence.  Margaret Wilkinson of Cambridge Enterprise said “The two awards to e-stack reflect the quality and potential of this exciting technology”.