Water Kinetics, a pioneering plumbing startup, has recently secured a £150,000 investment from the British Design Fund for its innovative 'Eco-Duo' pipe-within-a-pipe water recirculation system. This system is engineered to conserve energy, cut carbon emissions, and mitigate the risk of pathogens like Legionella in drinking water systems.

"Maxwell Bridges, co-founder and inventor of Water Kinetics, found inspiration in observing penguins and their circulatory system while watching a wildlife program," remarked a spokesperson from the company. "His insight into how recirculatory blood vessels in penguins maintain a consistent temperature sparked the idea for the Eco-Duo system."

Jonathan Waggott, co-founder and managing director of Water Kinetics, emphasized the potential for expansion, new machinery acquisition, and further product development. "We’re delighted to have secured this investment from the British Design Fund," he said. "It will help us expand our reach, introduce new machinery, and aid further product development."

An independent study by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) compared Eco-Duo to traditional water recirculation systems, revealing that Eco-Duo can reduce energy costs by up to 50% due to its superior temperature retention properties. This leads to significant cost savings, including a 50% reduction in pipe insulation and fittings, decreased labor costs, and increased usable space within buildings due to its one-pipe system. Moreover, the Eco-Duo pipework is approximately 40% cheaper than traditional systems.

"Waggott highlighted the environmental benefits of Eco-Duo, such as lowering emissions and energy usage, and its ability to eliminate stagnant water within the system, thereby reducing the risk of water-borne pathogens like Legionella," mentioned a representative from the company.

Damon Bonser, CEO of the British Design Fund, commended Water Kinetics for its innovative 'green' pipework system, which offers environmental, cost-saving, and health benefits. He noted the successful trials and installations of Eco-Duo, highlighting the company's potential for rapid scaling and expressing the fund's commitment to supporting their growth journey.

"The experienced team at Water Kinetics really impressed the investment committee with their innovative ‘green’ pipework system," Bonser stated. "There is fantastic potential for the company to quickly scale, and we look forward to supporting the team on their growth journey."

The British Design Fund collaborates with product startup enterprises poised for scaling, providing capital investment and expert mentoring to facilitate accelerated growth.