L-S-U has recently added new solar panel benches to popular spots around campus. These benches, designed by engineering professionals and students, were created with the intent of providing students with shade in between classes. In addition to a shady area, the benches also give students a place to charge their phones using sustainable energy.

These benches are actually founded on L-S-U’s campus with the potential of spreading awareness and enacting change on college campuses throughout the world. This project further proves how easy it is to use solar energy once we make a change to our everyday routine. For example, although the convenience aspect is beneficial for students, powering our phones through solar energy is also essential in sustaining the Earth.

Assistant professor Arup Bhattacharya hopes that “people from outside of LSU’s campus could come and look at these [benches], understand the research, and understand the requirements for integrating renewable energy sources with a built environment.”

Data can be collected from students who utilize these benches for statistical purposes. To assess the effectiveness of solar energy on a college campus, engineers should monitor the bench’s usage throughout the day to determine its practicality.

While the upfront cost of a project like this is substantial, the benefits over time outweigh the initial funding. This is an excellent way for engineering students to get involved and to apply the material they learn in their classes to helping others in everyday life. So next time you and your phone are running low on energy, take a seat at your nearest solar panel bench.