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A low energy ventilation system has received the top award at the East of England Energy Group's annual Energy Innovation Awards.

Ventilation specialist e-stack emerged the winner at the awards ceremony which aims to showcase innovations which have the potential to transform the energy sector.

In a double success the Cambridge based company won the newly introduced Low Carbon Award which is awarded to the finalist which shows the “greatest commitment to the environment”.

Managing director Shaun Fitzgerald said: “This is an endorsement by an independent body for the impact our technology can have on the use of energy in the built environment.

“We think it is incredibly important for the building industry to introduce technology like ours to avoid and cut energy wastage. This helps potential customers to realise there is something in this technology.”

e-stack was established two years ago as a spin off from BP funded research carried out at Cambridge University. The university still holds the patent, but e-stack has an exclusive licence agreement to use the technology.

The 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 company has designed natural ventilation systems for several projects including the NHS Breathing Space facility in Rotherham, the Chapelfield Shopping Mall in Norwich and the newly planned BP office in Sunbury.

The Energy Innovation Awards are organised by the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR). Other finalists included CarbonAqua, Coatiseal, EDF Energy, Fern Communications, GenDrive, OPITO and Parasol Panel Systems.

The runner-up was Coatiseal for its surface coating designed to protect valves, pipework and metallic equipment from corrosion and particularly targeted at the energy industry.

East of England Energy Group chief executive John Best said: “Our industry operates in a fiercely competitive and rapidly changing world where inventiveness and inspiration often prove the margin between success and failure.”