CREDIT: LAUREN DIETRICH
Fanshawe is introducing two solar-powered bench arches and three solar-powered picnic tables so students and staff can charge their devices using energy from the sun.

This summer Fanshawe is introducing three solar-powered picnic tables and two solar-powered bench arches for students and staff to enjoy a free charge from the sun.

The bench arches are ready for use at the bus stops in front of T and F buildings at the London main campus and the picnic tables will be installed in coming weeks in the D and F/SUB courtyards. Each bench arch features eight “Type A” USB ports and two Qi wireless phone chargers.

The picnic tables have three 120 volt outlets for students to charge their laptops, tablets, and iPads in addition to the USB ports and wireless chargers.

Each station also has LED lights that come on automatically between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. and the picnic tables have a switch to turn the lights on during the day if need be.

“There is enough power stored in the batteries so that you can use them all day and then light the area at night as well. There is enough of a charge left in the battery so if it doesn't get charged enough by the sun during the day it won't have a large impact,” Ivan Walker, senior manager of Fanshawe's facilities operations and sustainability, said.

Each station is made of post consumer polyethylene which comes from recycled materials like plastic water bottles and milk cartons.

According to Walker, the goal of this initiative is to educate staff and students about solar power and demonstrate that the sun is a useful power source.

“One of the largest concerns from students is that they need outside Wifi and somewhere to charge their phones. This is a great way of allowing students to charge their phones without having any impact on an energy bill or having to actually generate electricity on the grid,” Walker said.

If the solar powered bench arches and picnic tables are well received the sustainability team hopes to introduce more units in coming years. They also plan to take advantage of the solar power array on the roof of H building to generate more solar power charging outlets.

“When you look at what the students get out it, they are priceless,” Walker said.

The sustainability team at Fanshawe is always working on new ideas to make the college more environmentally friendly. Some of the initiatives they will be moving forward with include preheating the water going to the Student Wellness Centre, additional green walls and roofs and educating staff and students about proper recycling methods. This summer Fanshawe plans to renew the existing bottle fill stations and install more. If you have any locations in mind where you would like to see a bottle station email your ideas to sustainability@fanshawec.ca.