Lights go out for Ricoh on World Environment Day

"We began Global Eco Action Month in 2006 to enhance awareness of environmental issues," says Alan Austin, sales and marketing director at Ricoh SA. "Our theme this year is: 'Think and act on your own'. We encourage employees to individually focus on energy conservation at work and home, host and participate in environmental events, and take other actions that reflect their concerns for the environment."

Raise environmental awareness

The solar powered electronic billboards excluded from the upcoming extinguishing of lights, represent one of the measures being undertaken to expand the circle of global environmental conservation. The initiative is based on the idea that even if the billboards don't light up and fulfil their functions as signs, due to weather, the company hopes that the message the billboards convey will raise many people's environmental awareness and lead to the realisation of a sustainable society.

Experimental lighting began in April 2009 and, following the completion of the first billboard at Times Square, New York in 2010, additional billboards were installed in June and July last year in London and Sydney, respectively. The average combined power generation of the three sites has been calculated at approximately 150 kWh per day.