Fortunately, Edinburgh City Council is not suggesting Tynecastle High pupils drink the spirit to benefit from its heat.

But, from 2010, the replacement building for the existing high school will use waste heat from the North British Distillery next door.

The new school, to be built on McLeod Street in the capital, will use an innovative system to cut its energy bill dramatically.

Water supplied from the school will pass through a heat exchanger to be warmed up by the waste heat produced by the distillery.

The scheme will cost £200,000 but is expected to have paid for itself in energy savings within four years.

Marilyne McLaren, education convener, said: "This agreement demonstrates how a creative answer can be found within a local community through our school working closely with local businesses."

A similar project at the Bowmore distillery in Islay heats an adjacent swimming pool.

David Rae, managing director of the North British Distillery said: "This is an environmentally responsible project which will deliver benefits to both the school and the distillery."