Students and others visiting the patio outside the Iowa Memorial Union can now use power of the sun to charge their phones at four ZON Powersol stations.

The umbrellas equipped with solar panels can charge mobile devices as fast as any wall outlet and have an LED display indicating power stored and available, according to ZON. They also allow for three devices to charge at the same time, making for a total of 12 charging outlets.

University of Iowa Student Government (UISG) initiated the project and it started this past spring, Associate Director of Event and Facility Operations Cory Lockwood said. The system was installed in August, right before the 2016 fall semester.

UISG Sustainability Liaison Shelby Cain said Andrew Hirst, former Sustainability Liaison thought of the idea during his last semester at the UI. UISG Sen. Titus Hou and Hirst both wrote the bill. The plan was voted for and passed by the UISG Senate on March 8. UISG funded the umbrellas for $10,000 with each umbrella being $2,500 apiece.

Cain noted that the idea for the solar charging umbrellas came from reflecting both student life needs and sustainability here on campus. “The goal was finding an intersection between sustainability and student life,” she said.

She also noted the umbrellas reflect both student and faculty’s care for sustainability here on campus. “They are a physical representation of the sustainability culture at Iowa,” Cain said.  “I’m excited to see them installed.”

“It really shows awareness within the student body,” Lockwood agreed. “It really addresses a want from students.”

Of course, there is still a long way to go for the University to reach its 2020 sustainability goals, but both Cain and Lockwood agree the umbrellas are a great step in the right direction.

Lockwood also added that sustainability, both at the IMU and on campus, must continue to be integrated.

“Our whole goal is to make a fully integrated green space for students.” Lockwood said. “It’s a goal we’ll continue to work on.”