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July 03, 2014

Boston Goes Green with High-Tech Solar Powered Benches

Boston city residents can now find revolutionary solar-powered smart benches in various parks in the city, including Titus Sparrow Park in the South End, the Boston Common, and the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

These look a lot like regular benches, except they're equipped with big, steel-encased blocks that contain vulnerable-looking photovoltaic panels and charging points for phone users. “Soofa,” as the bench is called, is a solar-powered outdoor charging station that also collects and shares location-based information like air quality and noise level data.

The Soofa was first introduced at the White House Maker Faire in Washington, D.C. last week where few innovators and entrepreneurs met to cheer the robust development of new American ideas.

“Your cell phone doesn’t just make phone calls, why should our benches just be seats?” said Mayor Walsh. “We are fortunate to have talented entrepreneurs and makers in Boston thinking creatively about sustainability and the next generation of amenities for our residents.”

The Soofa will not only provide seating space but is also equipped with charging points where two phones can be charged at the same time. This innovative functionality of the first solar-powered seat by Changing Environments, has been effectively led in a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics, the MIT Media Lab, and the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

“We’re delighted to continue the Greenway's partnership with New Urban Mechanics and the MIT Media Lab,” said Jesse Brackenbury, executive director of the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy. “The Soofa will allow visitors and their phones to enjoy the sun on the Greenway.”

The City of Boston is not stopping with this. The mayor has asked the residents to endorse one more additional City to install the Soofa. Residents can go online and mention a location at bit.ly/bosbench  or tweet the location to @newurbanmechs by July 11.




Edited by Maurice Nagle


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