Solar Powered Smart Benches

Additional solar-powered 'smart benches' that offer free WiFi and phone charging have been installed on the streets of SE1.

10:30 20 August 2018

10 new additional solar-powered smart benches have been installed on the streets of SE1. The benches, which offer free WiFi, USB charging ports and air quality monitoring, were first installed in the area in May 2017.

 

The project is part of a partnership between a Serbia-based company called Strawberry Energy and Southwark Council.

 

Strawberry Energy has recently come up with a new design that takes up less space on the pavement, has more advanced monitoring technology and an option to tailor what is being monitored.

 

Cllr Peter John said: "I welcome the arrival of these new Strawberry smart benches, they will help us to offer people in Southwark modern technology that responds to today's needs."

 

"Whenever I pass the benches they are busy with people resting, charging their phones and using the free wifi.

 

"Additionally, council officers have started to collect air quality data from the benches; this will help us to build a picture of the air pollution problem and inform our way forward."

 

Milos Milisavljevic said: "Our commitment to healthier streets adapted to modern citizens' needs continues with this new launch of Smart Benches.

 

"We designed the benches with today's Londoner in mind – providing free, solar-powered phone charging, wifi and air quality monitoring in a single, sleek piece of street furniture.

 

"We're delighted to be working in partnership with Southwark Council to extend the network of smart benches in the borough and hope the addition of new sensors will help the council and local residents have a better picture of air quality down to a street level."