Tamworth inventor wins energy contest prize

AIR-CONDITIONED bed sheets, a contraption devised by a Tamworth inventor, have won first prize in a national competition to find the best new energy-saving products.

Mike Biddell , 61, of Glenwood Gardens, Wilnecote, was crowned winner of the Britain's Bright Ideas competition at a ceremony at the Science Museum in London yesterday (Wednesday) morning.

Speaking to the Herald shortly after the ceremony, he said: "I'm still a little bit shell-shocked, and I'm over the moon.

"It's an amazing feeling.

"I'm thrilled, it's tremendous to have this recognition."

Mike's sheets beat off stiff competition from other unique ideas to win the top prize.

These included a bicycle powered USB charger, an infra-red hairdryer and floating island cities. As well as scooping a batch of energy efficiency gizmos, Mike also saw his idea turned into a Wallace and Gromit sketch at the awards ceremony.

The energy-saving sheets are designed to reduce the cost of cooling homes in warm climates at night.

They work by blowing chilled air into the bed space either from a sort of leaky lilo placed above or under your top sheet or in your duvet.

This would cool your top sheet or duvet.

Alternatively, chilled air can be blown directly into the empty space in your mattress and this will cool your bottom sheet.

Judges for the Bright Ideas competition, which is backed by npower, loved the idea's originality.

spokesperson Kevin Peake said: "'Mike's idea has all of the essential elements of a Bright Idea; it's simple and effective."

The sheets have been patented, but they are still in the invention phase and have not yet been produced.

Mike is on board with the company European Thermodynamics to produce the sheets, he just needs an investor to help fund production.