Small Changes for a Better Tomorrow

“Go green.” “Be environmentally friendly.” “Reduce your carbon footprint.” These statements are everywhere, but how do we implement these ideas and make lifestyle changes. As World Environment Day and World Oceans Day approach on June 5 and June 8, respectively, we’ve put together a few ways to get involved that can help make a difference.

This year, World Environment Day focuses on the changes we can make to reduce our energy consumption. To help with this effort, many companies are creating energy efficient gadgets, economically friendly alternatives and alternate power sources. Logitech’s newest keyboard, the Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 does just this – it’s powered by light, both low light and lamp light, indoors and out. In fact, if the world switched to solar keyboards, 828,000,000 AA batteries would be kept out of landfills annually, and if these were laid end-to-end, they would encircle the earth at its equator. You can reduce your carbon footprint by using products charged by solar power, replacing a regular light bulb for a CFL, or waiting a few extra minutes to turn on your lights in the evening. Every little change made can have an impact.

One way to celebrate World Oceans Day and protect our coasts is to reduce what we put into the waste stream, as there’s a risk it may eventually land (or leech) into our oceans. Just because your gadget is dead, it doesn’t mean it should go into the trash. TerraCycle, an organization which provides free waste collection programs for hard to recycle materials, has partnered with Logitech to recycle your old computer mice or keyboards. Just sign-up for the free Keyboard and Mouse Brigade, collect 20 or more computer mice and keyboards and place them in any sized box. TerraCycle provides pre-paid shipping labels, which you can print, and then drop off at any UPS location. TerraCycle will then create new, innovative products with your old mice and keyboards.

The Logitech Solar Keyboard Folio provides benefits to both World Environment Day and World Oceans Day. This keyboard is solar powered, eliminating your need for batteries and chargers, further reducing your environmental impact. Additionally, it can charge from any light, including lamp light, indoor light and the sun.

Use World Environment Day and World Oceans Day as a springboard to action – take time to gather with your classmates, neighbors, sports teams, coworkers or networking clubs to see how many products you can collect for the Keyboard and Mouse Brigade! Try a solar powered product, or simply turn off an extra light. Volunteer at coastal cleanups, make sure to recycle whenever possible, and even try riding your bike to work or school one day.

What steps will you take – big or small – to reduce your environmental impact?