SOLAR-POWERED CHARGING STATIONS WERE DONATED RECENTLY

Students and faculty at the University of Texas at Arlington and visitors to the Dallas Zoo are getting a charge out of new technology that can keep their mobile devices going.

Reliant recently donated two NRG Street Charge solar charging stations each to the university and the zoo. Reliant is an NRG company.

Maintenance workers install one of the donated NRG Street Charge stations at UT Arlington. (Photos courtesy the University of Texas at Arlington)

The 12.5-foot towers are near the UTA Library mall and near the campus bus stop outside the College of Business, UTA said in a release. At the zoo, the stations are at the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo and the Wilds of Africa Grill.

RELIANT CHARGERS ARE SOLAR POWERED

Solar panels on the charging stations provide power to a collection of mobile device charging cables, allowing users to plug in for a free charge.

“UT takes pride in being at the forefront of innovation, along with providing convenient and sustainable solutions on campus,” Vice President for Administration and Campus Operations John Hall said.

He said the donation will give students an opportunity to take advantage of new technology.

“With the Reliant-donated Street Charge stations, our students, and faculty will benefit from abundant solar energy in an environment that encourages adoption of cutting-edge technology.”

A UTA student uses the charging station donated by Reliant.

The charger stations should get plenty of use at the school and the zoo.

SHIPPING CRATES REPURPOSED FOR ANIMAL USE

“We are always looking for new and innovative ways to provide guests with the best experience when getting up close to the animals,” Dallas Zoo President and CEO Gregg Hudson said. “With our strong commitment to customer experience and the community’s continued interest in sustainable solutions, the NRG Street Charge stations donated by Reliant are a win-win for everyone, animals included.”

Lydia Jennings, communications and media specialist at the zoo, told Dallas Innovates that the charging stations have been a “huge hit” with visitors.

UTA donated the crates that the charging stations were shipped in to the zoo, where Jennings said they were repurposed for animal enrichment.

“Picture how much house cats love boxes, so do many other animals,” she said.

UTA IS SYSTEM’S 2ND-LARGEST INSTITUTION

UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System with more than 52,000 students in campus-based and online degree programs. It recently was one of three North Texas universities designated as a Carnegie “highest research activity” institution.

The Dallas Zoo is the largest zoological park in Texas, with more than 2,000 animals on the property. It surpassed 1 million yearly visitors for the first time in 2015.

Houston-based Reliant provides electric power to businesses and homes across Texas and is a part of NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE: NRG)

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