A Ripon Grammar School student has won an award for designing an app aimed at helping commuters reduce their carbon footprint.

David Fernandes, a 12-year-old Ripon Grammar School student, was awarded a Faraday Challenge prize for his idea, which also intends to help Network Rail minimise its impact on the environment.

The app shows commuters the total carbon produced for each journey, as well as monthly projections.

David said:

David’s ZeroCO2 Train smart app uses three steps – travel, calculate and offset.

It automatically calculates a consumer’s train travel data and provides them with options to offset their carbon emission.

His presentation was made in the 11-15 years category in the Virtual Faraday Challenge. This encourages the development of young people’s problem-solving and communications skills.

David's idea impressed expert judges at the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

The panel said:

His app allows commuters to use their e-train ticket (or scan their paper-based ticket) to be automatically validated at the start of each journey.

The app will show the customer the total carbon produced for each journey, also cumulative monthly journeys and annual projections based on their travel profile.

Travellers can then offset their carbon footprint by supporting a range of UK-based carbon offset projects, ranging from solar power to tree plantations that the app would recommend.

Entrants were asked to produce a design and demonstrate the engineering skills required to think of a solution.

This year’s task was: Helping Network Rail to sustainably manage the increasing numbers of passengers using their network.

David added:

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