Three solar-powered charging tables were recently placed on Auburn’s campus. The tables provide a modern, sustainable way for people to charge their electronic devices while studying outside.
John Hung, professor of electrical and computer engineering, said the solar-powered charging tables are more of a logistical alternative to the traditional style charging stations.
“Typically, if you want electricity, you’re going to have to run wires out there, an extension chord or whatever," Hung said. "That means you’re going to have to dig up the ground or lay wires or along the wall or overhead, and sometimes that’s just a pain. So, with solar power, you could have a stand-alone power source."
The tables appear similar to the tables already installed outside of dining areas across campus. The solar panels are placed where the umbrella would typically be and the tables have three 55-watt panels and one 100-watt panel.
Each table provides four electrical outlets, four USB outlets and four Qi-enabled, or wireless outlets.
Two of the tables are located in the dining area between the Thatch Concourse and Chicken Salad Chick next to Foy Hall. The other is located next to Lupton Hall in the AU Smokehouse seating area.
SGA worked in conjunction with Facilities Management to bring and install the tables on campus. According to the University, SGA has received a large amount of feedback from students asking for more outdoor study space.
“We found the solar-powered charging tables to be a great fit for campus," said David Facteau, SGA executive vice president of initatives. "We are excited about their installation, and we have been encouraged to see students utilizing the spaces."
Hung said there are pros and cons to using solar-powered energy sources just as there are for traditional power sources. Solar energy sources are more sustainable, but traditional power sources have been around longer, so they are more cost-efficient.
“It’s like the tradeoff between a gas-powered vehicle and a Prius," Hung said. "A Prius is quiet; it’s saving money on gas, but there’ve tradeoffs. You can’t drive as far; you can’t drive as fast but a gas-powered vehicle has more pollution when being used. The Prius doesn’t produce pollution when being operated. The pollution occurred when the car was made."
The traditional power sources are a more efficient source at converting energy but the solar-powered limitations only become a problem on a large scale. According to Hung, there should be no issues with a charging table.
“A hundred-watts would be more than enough for a phone charger," Hung said. "A typical phone charger is probably running at about 5-watts."
In order to optimize the yield of sunlight, one panel is faced toward the morning sun, one facing toward the noon sun, one facing the afternoon sun and one facing the evening sun on top of the table.
There are signs on each table with instruction on how to use each table.
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