In the summer of 2004, while spending time with his family in Pakistan, Professor James Trevelyan experienced a temperature of about 46°C and up to 80 per cent humidity.
Regular power outages had just started. It left him without air conditioning, with the indoor temperature hovering around 40°C after midnight.
This was when he decided there must be a “cooler” way to keep oneself cool.
In 2007, he invented a personal air conditioner, which he claims to provide environmentally-friendly cooling solutions that are less-power consuming and less-emitting.
“Our mission is to provide affordable and efficient cooling to everyone who needs it without compromising sustainability,” Trevelyan says, as he narrates the story that led him to build Close Comfort.
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His startup journey, however, was far from smooth and it took him many years to turn Close Comfort to a “saleable” product.
For about six years, from 2007 to 2014, the professor worked with his engineering students at the University of Western Australia to develop the product and realise his dream.
By 2013, he developed a prototype, and in summer, he arrived at the foot of the Himalayas to conduct tests in some of the hottest areas of Pakistan. To his surprise, the results exceeded his expectations. This was despite the nightly indoor temperatures reaching 41°C (with 70-80 per cent humidity).
“After two further years of market research and testing in different countries and climatic conditions, the first Close Comfort units went on sale to customers in Pakistan in 2016,” he shares.
How it keeps you cool
Close Comfort is a tiny, light-weight, portable refrigerator with a fan inside that blows a gentle stream of cool air to create sufficient comfort for one or more people, close together.
A key feature, according to the professor, is that it “never” needs recharging and adjusts automatically to work harder in high humidity. No installation is required as it needs no water or exhaust hoses. This means you can be cool and comfortable wherever you are, even outside in sheltered places.
“Since it uses compressor refrigeration, you feel that refreshing crisp air straight away, gently blowing away all the discomfort from heat and humidity,” the professor says.
Close Comfort founder Professor James Trevelyan
Additionally, he claims, the units consume very little power that you will barely notice it on your electricity bill. The device releases only 300 Watts. It directs its warm air exhaust to the ceiling where the heat is absorbed, just like the warmth from your fridge which you don’t notice. “Any excess finds its way out of open windows or doors,” he shares.
The Igloo tent
Close Comfort also has an Igloo tent on offer. If the temperature inside your bedroom regularly exceeds 28°C at night, this tent can provide extra cooling to keep you comfortable. It also doubles up as a chemical-free mosquito protection.
Igloo also reduces the air conditioner power consumption to about 180 Watts, on an average, which is valuable saving for off-grid battery installations.
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The professor recommends that we keep the device near you, no more than 1 or 2 metres away, for optimal cooling.
With offices in Singapore and Australia, Cool Comfort is also available for sale in Indonesia and Pakistan. The product — priced at US$649 — can be purchased through leading e-commerce platforms such as Shopee and Lazada in addition to its own site.
Cool Comfort is manufactured in China under Australian supervision by a Taiwanese-owned factory specialising in high-quality appliance manufacture.
Expansion on the anvil
The professor is now looking to expand his business into new countries. “The world is warming and cities are warming even faster. Billions of people need energy-efficient air conditioning now, even more in future,” he says.
Although the business saw steady growth in the recent years, the growth came with many challenges. “The biggest challenge was learning to market it effectively and helping customers understand that we don’t need to cool a whole room or building for them to feel comfortable,” admits the founder.
“The concept is so simple: it cools people, not buildings. But a century of room air conditioning has ‘conditioned’ people’s minds as well. It’s hard to think of something completely different, especially for engineers,” he says.
A family-financed startup, Close Comfort will in the future look to raise venture funding to scale production, marketing and sales for the vast global market.
“With thousands of units sold, mainly online, glowing five-star reviews from users, and low distribution costs demonstrated in attractive markets, the company is ready for outside investors,” he concludes.
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Image Credit: Close Comfort
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