10031127FREECOMFORTClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKFree Running Buildings Ltd (FRB), will apply world-class expertise in low-carbon engineering to deliver a pioneering, high-performance, cost-effective passive ventilation system. FREECOMFORT will be the first zero energy technology with complete air conditioning capabilities, and an innovative design to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus/airborne viruses in multi-occupancy buildings. It addresses a catalogue of pressing socio-economic challenges: i) adhering to national/international goals for energy efficiency/Net Zero by 2050; ii) circumventing the soaring cost of energy bills; iii) realising the demand for increased ventilation amidst the global pandemic; iv) meeting legislative requirements for indoor air quality/thermal comfort in the wake of rapid climate change. This scalable innovation, which will initially target high occupancy buildings (schools, offices, leisure centres and healthcare premises), stems from the development of previously successful, patented FRB technology for wind-driven passive ventilation, heat-exchange and low energy cooling. It will utilise FRB's patented heat pipe matrix and configurations to transfer heat to pre-heat or pre-cool inlet air. The technology guarantees no cross-contamination of air, boasting an all-in-one air exchange wind-tower, separating exiting air from incoming air, with additional features for moisture control. FREECOMFORT has enormous potential to disrupt markets in the UK and internationally, delivering a solution that is superior regarding capability and customer value. Adequate ventilation of a high-occupancy buildings requires a full refresh of inside-air every 6-10 minutes to manage levels of carbon dioxide, pollutant/allergens and temperature. This demand increased further by the emergence of Covid-19 (C-19) - with CIBSE recommendations to bypass mechanical systems to work purely on fresh air intake. This sudden shift highlighted the huge operating cost of mechanical ventilation based on fresh air supply (e.g. UK public sector: 26billion kWh/year; 6.9million tonnes CO2/year; £750million/year). Focus has shifted to alternative solutions, yet whilst the adoption of wind-tower-based passive ventilation is growing, the necessity to frequently and rapidly raise or lower the inlet air temperature, _when outdoor temperatures are not suitable for thermal comfort_, stimulates a significant space-heating or cooling requirement in many market territories, fundamentally restricting the zero-energy operating window and viability of this approach. FREECOMFORT offers an effective response; an easy to install, low-cost, zero energy system that meets consumer needs year-round, delivering a step-change in passive heat-recovery-efficiency. FREECOMFORT is set for rapid commercialisation and can underpin significant social/environmental/economic gains: \*reducing carbon-emissions; \*providing improved ventilation at lower-cost; \*increasing revenue for supply chains and industries (i.e. heat piple/metal fabrication/construction/green buildings); \*supporting Government policies/UK Economy.