London phone booth converted to solar-powered mobile charging station. via huffingtonpost

Some of London’s famous red telephone boxes are going green, transformed into free, solar-powered mobile chargers to provide a carbon-neutral source of energy in the city.

The “solarbox,” unveiled on Wednesday, was invented by two graduates from the London School of Economics (LSE) and can be used to charge phones, tablets, cameras and other devices.

The first pilot “solarbox” was opened for public use in Tottenham Court Road in London’s main central shopping district on Wednesday, equipped with a solar panel which provides a clean, carbon-neutral source of energy.

A second solarbox is expected to be opened in January while more will follow. Organizers did not put a number on how many of London’s red phone boxes, which are increasingly unused, will be converted into solarboxes.

Costs for the green box that can be used free of charge are covered through in-kiosk advertising.

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