Cal U. using solar power to recharge electronic devices

Laptops, tablets and smartphones are an intrinsic part of college life – and all those devices need charging.
Now students on California University of Pennsylvania’s main campus can recharge their digital devices outdoors, using the power of the sun.
Cal U. installed a sustainable solar-powered charging table along Third Street, near the entrance to Manderino Library. The ConnecTable Hub offers seating beneath a solar array that provides enough off-grid energy to support 75 to 150 cellphone charges per day, even under cloudy skies.
Four commercial-quality photovoltaic panels capture solar energy, which is converted to electrical power and stored in a battery housed within the table. The power flows to four 120-volt outlets and eight USB ports that accommodate laptops, tablets and phones.
The all-weather charging table operates on just two to three hours of direct sunlight per day. It’s built to withstand winds of 90 miles per hour.
“There is a lot of foot traffic near the library, so it’s a convenient location for a charging station. And I think students will enjoy having a place to plug in, sit down and spend time together outdoors,” said Robert Thorn, vice president for administration and finance.
Cal U. is the first Pennsylvania university to provide a solar hub.