The United Kingdom, currently among the world's leading nations for eco-friendly innovations, is encouraging its young inventors to think creatively about ways to go green.

A UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) research shows that Britain is one of the top six nations (Japan, China, the US, Germany and Korea are the others) in the number of energy-saving inventions. Here are just two reasons why.

Stan Whetstone of Barlby North Yorkshire in the UK, invented a “Tadpole” between the boiler and pump of central heating systems - an innovative new solution that significantly improves efficiency and subsequently reduces energy consumption, CO2 emissions and energy bills. He had it patented in December 2006 and over the last 12 months, he has recorded an impressive 30% improvement in the efficiency of his own household central heating system with an estimated knock on reduction in household CO2 emissions by as much as two thirds of a tonne and a drop in the annual bill from around £620 to £400.

Trevor Baylis, one of Britain's most famous inventors, has recently launched the innovative Eco Media Player. The inventor of the Wind-up Radio has brought the idea to a modern media player which stores 500 songs and comes with a radio and torch. It plays music for 20 hours before it needs to be charged - and this is done by cranking a fold-up handle at the rear rather than plugging it in.

In keeping with this innovative tradition and to encourage green inventions, the UK-IPO recently launched its flagship education project for primary school-aged children - a competition to stimulate Britain's youngest inventors to think green when coming up with new ideas. "Cracking Ideas 2008" (cracking is the British equivalent of fantastic), launched at an Education Show in Birmingham, offers teachers resources and activities for the classroom. Children aged 9-11 are encouraged to come up with a new invention - with the emphasis on something eco-friendly.

The green innovation campaign is backed by Oscar winners Wallace & Gromit, and uses inspiration from their new film "A Matter of Loaf and Death." The two are the main characters in a series of British animated short films and a full-length feature by Nick Park of Aardman Animations (Wallace is an absent-minded inventor and Gromit is his dog). The campaign features their own green inventions. Prizes for the winning schools include a special screening of the new film.

According to Minister for Intellectual Property, Baroness Delyth Morgan, this is an important initiative to get children thinking about innovation at an early age. "Cracking Ideas is fantastic for encouraging primary school aged children to innovate. It's great that this year we are getting children to think about green innovations."

She continued, "The UK is proud of its innovating tradition and our work on energy saving devices. Cracking Ideas keeps us at the forefront of this vital field. We are very fortunate that Wallace & Gromit and Aardman Animations have played a part in bringing this exciting project to life in our schools, and I would like to thank them for their support."

The project is sure to further enhance the UK’s stature in the world of eco-friendly inventions and pave the way for the growth of green intellectual property.