University of Cambridge spin-out Breathing Buildings has been recognised as one of ten companies driving change in the energy sector, thanks to its natural ventilation technology which can reduce heating bills by as much as 50%.

The company, which spun out of the University’s BP Institute in 2006, was one of ten companies named as a 2014 New Energy Pioneer by Bloomberg New Energy Finance at a ceremony in New York City earlier this week.

It is a great to know that what we are doing at Breathing Buildings really is set to have a global impact, and the company being awarded the prestigious accolade as a Bloomberg New Energy Pioneer is testimony to the amazing work from all the team.

Shaun Fitzgerald

Breathing Buildings has developed a completely new way of naturally ventilating buildings. The concept exploits the heat gains from people, lights, IT and even solar in a building, avoiding the wasteful use of radiators which have historically been the only solution to cold draughts.

The technology enables the energy use of buildings to be halved. There are already over 200 ‘Breathing Buildings’ in the UK and following the launch of a sales partnership with Price Industries in Atlanta, installations are now underway in the United States.

“It is a great to know that what we are doing at Breathing Buildings really is set to have a global impact, and the company being awarded the prestigious accolade as a Bloomberg New Energy Pioneer is testimony to the amazing work from all the team,” said Shaun Fitzgerald, Breathing Buildings’ CEO.

The awards program, now in its fifth year, selects ten New Energy Pioneers annually. This year the independent panel of industry experts selected the winners from numerous applicants from around the world, assessing them against three criteria: innovation, demonstrated momentum and potential global scale.

This year’s winners represent a broad range of industries including bioenergy, energy efficiency, geothermal, innovative finance, smart energy technology, solar and water. By rewarding game changing innovators, Bloomberg New Energy Finance hopes to highlight the profound transition in today’s energy system, towards new business models, technologies and market structures that are challenging the status quo.

Michael Wilshire, Selection Committee Chair and Head of Analysis of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said: “We were impressed by the strength and breadth of innovation in this year’s New Energy Pioneer candidates and their potential to accelerate the next wave of industry growth. We are again very grateful to our group of judges who narrowed this field down to just ten winners. We wish all of the Pioneers every success in the future.”

Other 2014 winners include 1366 Technologies, Bridgelux, Coolerado, Genomatica, Green Energy Group, M-KOPA Solar, Oasys Water, Renmatix, and Younicos.

Photo credit: Breathing Buildings