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Appalachian students pause between classes to charge their phones at the three new solar-powered picnic tables available on the first-floor patio of Peacock Hall. Photo by Marie Freeman

Study, connect and recharge at Appalachian’s new solar-powered picnic tables

By Haley Childers
Posted Feb. 5, 2018 at 11:17 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Solar-powered, smart picnic tables were installed on Peacock Hall’s first-floor patio, providing extra form and function for learners on Appalachian State University’s campus.

Two of the tables were purchased by Appalachian’s Office of Sustainability and one was a gift from the Appalachian State Renewable Energy Initiative (REI), a student-led, student-funded organization that installs renewable energy and energy efficiency projects on campus. The tables feature charging stations — including wireless charging, USB ports and regular outlets.

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Two Appalachian students charge their laptops and phones at one of the solar-powered picnic tables now available on Peacock Hall’s first-floor patio. Photo by Samantha Fuentes

The REI students worked with Appalachian’s Chief Sustainability Officer Dr. Lee Ball, Office of Sustainability Data and Assessment Specialist Jim Dees and the Walker College of Business to create the plan for the tables.

A ribbon-cutting celebration is tentatively set for Monday, April 16, as part of Appalachian’s Earth Month observance.

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REI students were on hand to answer questions when the solar-powered picnic tables were assembled and installed on the first-floor patio of Appalachian’s Peacock Hall. Photo by Samantha Fuentes

Solar charging station ribbon-cutting draws lunchtime crowd at Appalachian’s Peacock Hall
Solar charging station ribbon-cutting draws lunchtime crowd at Appalachian’s Peacock Hall
April 17, 2018

The ribbon-cutting for Appalachian’s solar charging picnic tables — which were installed in February and are located on the first-floor patio of Peacock Hall — coincides with the campus’ Earth Month celebrations.

Read the story

About the Appalachian State University Renewable Energy Initiative

The Appalachian State University Renewable Energy Initiative (REI) is a student-led, student-funded organization that seeks to install renewable energy and energy efficiency projects on campus. Projects can be proposed by any member of Appalachian and are carried out by the REI committee with the help of faculty and staff advisors. Since its inception in 2005, the REI has funded over 20 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, including the Broyhill Wind Turbine, which, until recently, was the largest wind turbine in North Carolina. The REI works closely with Appalachian’s Office of Sustainability. Learn more at https://rei.appstate.edu.

About Sustainability at Appalachian

Appalachian State University’s leadership in sustainability is known nationally. The university’s holistic, three-branched approach considers sustainability economically, environmentally and equitably in relationship to the planet’s co-inhabitants. The university is an active steward of the state’s interconnected financial, cultural and natural resources and challenges students and others think critically and creatively about sustainability and what it means from the smallest individual action to the most broad-based applications. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate academic degree programs that focus on sustainability. In addition, 100 percent of Appalachian’s academic departments offer at least one sustainability course or course that includes sustainability, and all students graduate from programs that have adopted at least one sustainability learning outcome. Learn more at https://appstate.edu/sustainability.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 20,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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