Environmental engineers Max Fordham and Demand Logic, a cleantech company that helps big buildings to make significant savings on their energy bills, have won Ashden Awards.
Environmental engineers Max Fordham and Demand Logic, a cleantech company that helps big buildings to make significant savings on their energy bills, have won Ashden Awards.
The awards, which honour pioneering work in promoting sustainable energy, were presented in a ceremony at the Royal Geographic Society on 11 June, hosted by broadcaster Emma Freud.
Max Fordham won the 2015 Ashden Award Gold Award, and the Ashden Award for Sustainable Buildings, supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation. The environmental engineering firm works with architects to minimise the energy requirements of new buildings. Its buildings can meet many of their own lighting, heating and air conditioning needs through measures such as harnessing natural light and ventilation. Its work on new buildings can cut carbon emissions by up to 50%.
The Ashden Judging Panel said: “Max Fordham is pushing the boundaries in the design of sustainable buildings. It doesn’t just work closely with architects to create beautiful buildings that have the highest standards of energy efficiency and are pleasant to work or live in; its focus on working with occupants to get the best out of their buildings is exemplary. The company should be applauded for its trailblazing role in driving up standards across the entire sector.”
Senior partner at Max Fordham, Guy Nevill, said: “In 2016 our practice celebrates its 50th anniversary. For five decades we have strived to make a significant impact on the sustainability of the built environment. To be recognised by an organisation with the gravitas of the Ashden Awards is very gratifying.”
Meanwhile, Demand Logic has won the 2015 Impax Ashden Award for Energy Innovation.
The London-based pioneering cleantech company has developed a cloud-based system which plugs into the building management system of commercial buildings and quickly detects what it calls ‘energy insanities’. Boilers in big buildings can use the same energy as 500 kettles and main chillers can use the equivalent energy of 500 houses. If systems like these are left on when they are not needed, the resulting energy wastage can be huge. Demand Logic systems are currently installed at around 30 sites, including Land Securities buildings One New Change and 20 Fenchurch Street.
Ceo of Demand Logic, Joe Short, said: 'We are delighted to win this prestigious award. Ashden has real credibility and the judging process is extremely thorough. With so many unfounded claims out there about energy saving, it's a real boost for us to have our ability to make real savings recognised and celebrated like this.'
As Gold Award winner, Max Fordham wins £40,000 in prize money. Demand Logic receives £20,000.
Pictured top: Guy Nevill of Max Fordham receiving its award from Melissa Murdoch of the Garfield Weston Foundation
Pictured right: Joe Short of Demand Logic receiving its award from Ian Simm of Impax Asset Management