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Public infrastructure powered through sustainable, green energy with PowerStack vertical solar.
Location: Houston, Texas, USA
Product: M30 (10ft) PowerStack with 4 way, wireless charging pads for cell phones and other devices
Date: January 2022
Project: The Houston SPARK School Park Program was looking for a sustainable solution for phone charging at one of their sites. Originally they had selected a provider that would require permits and engineering sign off, which was going to be a lengthy and expensive process, and would only provide 2 charging ports in the finished design.
Challenge: These projects could not be powered by AC grid power, and with the funding for this project coming from a local grant for sustainability projects, there were set parameters. They needed an alternative solution for the phone chargers.
Solution: The 100% off-grid solar pole met the sustainability criteria for the project, and also didn’t require the type of permit or engineer sign off required by the alternative.
With 4 way charging ports for cell phones and other devices, it also doubled the charging functionality of the original product specification.
Added to this, by being a ‘vertical, modular’ solar powered phone charging station, the PowerStack design provided an aesthetic that blended seamlessly with the park design.
With no need for heavy machinery to install the pole, the PowerStack solar phone charger could be installed quickly and easily, minimizing disruption to the park and the community.
"A driving factor was sustainability. It had to be solar-powered with maximum charging port capability. Having the solar panel wrapped around the pole was a unique and attractive feature, rather than having a flat solar panel at the top of the device."
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The SPARK program to develop neighborhood parks on public school grounds first originated in 1983 to address the disparities in available park land in Houston compared to other cities. Using available public land has proven to be a fast and cost-effective way to increase park acreage. SPARK has built more than 200 community parks in 12 different school districts to serve neighborhoods throughout Greater Houston. Each park is designed based on the ideas and needs of the school and surrounding neighborhoods.
While all the parks are different, a typical park consists of modular playground equipment, a walking trail, benches, picnic tables, trees, an outdoor classroom, and a public art component. The City will continue to expand the SPARK program to more schools and will explore other opportunities to leverage the success of the program so more of Houston’s neighborhoods have access to park amenities.
PowerStack vertical solar can be used to power a number of different technologies including security cameras, lighting, cell phone and EV charging, and wi-fi networks. Here are a few of the key features that made it a stand out in this project.
Sleek vertical design lends itself to urban, suburban and rural surrounds, no bulky flat panels.
No heavy machinery required for install or maintenance, easier to deploy with fewer regulatory demands.
Sustainable solar energy creating green infrastructure and more connected spaces.
360° sun capture design that’s powerful enough to run 4 device charger stations all year round.
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