Scotland's seven new low-carbon pioneers

High carbon levels and climate change are putting Arctic regions at risk.

Seven budding inventors have been selected by The Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI) to further develop their products designed to cut carbon emissions and offset climate change.

From turning used coffee cups into nutrient-rich plant pots to urban farming and harder working , the ideas arriving at the ECCI are as diverse as they are impressive.

The Edinburgh-based recruits will be sponsored by law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn and supported by the centre’s network of academics and scientists.

Ed Craig, ECCI Head of Enterprise & Innovation said: “There’s an ever-increasing buzz about ECCI and it’s just been ramped up another gear with these exciting new residents.”

LESS WATER, LESS WASTE

Denny Schenk, 25 – Retromixer

Separate taps for hot and cold water are common in Britain but long known to waste water and use excessive energy.

Retromixer is a simple, affordable, plastic device that you fit over the taps, giving one stream of water at the right temperature.

Mr Schenk and his partner Artur Napiorkowski, 28, said people no longer wanted to fill a sink to wash their hands but that moving hands under two running taps was wasteful.

Retromixer - or retrofitted mixer for separate taps - brings both streams together and is made of recyclable material resistant to high temperature. It is said to reduce water consumption by 50 per cent.

FROM OLD COFFEE, NEW LIFE

Franziska Srocke, 28 - GroVite

Ms Sroke hopes to make a high-quality growing material which contains biochar - a type of charcoal that in this case is made from used coffee grounds and paper coffee cups.

She believes it will make the ideal plant pot given its in-built capabilities to fertilise and condition the soil with its highly porous structure. This will improves moisture, retain nutrients and aerate the soil to give flowers and plants the healthiest start in life.

They will also reduce waste and carbon emissions by recycling the coffee-based material.

TRAIN NOT PLANE

Chris Palmer, 24, – Carbon Railcard