Competitions are good when they encourage young minds to think out of the box and harness all their energies to build useful projects. Our environment and ecology are two areas that demand focus not only from the adults but also the children. Thus the BKFK's "Going Green Challenge," which focused on coming up with new eco-ideas for a changing world was a great platform for the youth to showcase their concerns and awareness. 12-year-old Elizabeth Rintels clinched the top spot for her "Water Watcher." Her invention is a device that you hook onto your shower faucet. It signals a red light and sounds a beep every time a half-gallon of water is used. She was inspired to build this watcher after she discovered that by reducing her shower time by one minute, she would save approximately 1,000 gallons of water per year.

Along with the $10,000 cash prize, Elizabeth Rintels also will get to spend a day "shadowing" one of the eco-experts from Leonardo DiCaprio's 11th Hour Action Web site.

Other inventions in the "Going Green Challenge" finalist category include:

• The "Recycle Frog," a large, amphibian-shaped plastic recycling bin that can be programmed to convey encouraging messages to kids about reuse.
• "Trash Duo," a portable, reusable, washable bag that has two, built-in compartments: one for trash and one for recyclables. That way, people can recycle on the go more easily.
• "Take The Bus! Reward Tokens" that kids can exchange for prizes, or even a party, whenever they take public transit to school instead of hitching a ride with mom and dad.