UNC Charlotte Installs Solar-Powered Tables For Studying, Charging

UNC Charlotte added two solar picnic tables behind McEniry Hall this summer. They sit next to the pollinator garden beds. The Charlotte Green Initiative student green fund covered costs.

Each table fits 11 people. A canopy on top collects sunlight and converts it into electricity. That power runs charging ports — USB-A, USB-C, wireless pads, and standard 110-volt outlets.

EnerFusion built the tables. Students can eat, study, or gather under the shade. The UNC Charlotte Pollinator Club takes care of the garden beds nearby.

Native plants fill those beds. They help bees, butterflies, and other pollinators thrive. A bus stop stands close by, and walkways from McEniry Hall make the area easy to reach.

Teachers can hold class outside. Students get to watch renewable energy work in real time.

The setup lets students enjoy green spaces, which help with focus and mood. Devices charge using clean power while people work or relax outdoors.

Each table has a large surface for group projects or meals. Solar panels collect energy all day to keep the charging stations running.

The Charlotte Green Initiative runs the student green fund behind this project. It backs efforts that push sustainable practices around campus.

The Office of Sustainability partners with the initiative to launch green projects at UNC Charlotte. These solar tables are part of a larger push to shrink the school’s carbon footprint and create hands-on learning moments.

McEniry Hall’s backyard was picked because students can get there with ease. The pollinator garden beds already drew people interested in environmental work.