A new table placed outside dining hall Plaza 900 isn’t just any piece of furniture.

The new eco-friendly addition, called the Solar Dok, was brought to MU on Feb. 20.

This high-tech gathering place collects sunlight in the solar panels located in its umbrella. A charge controller, visible on the umbrella pole just above the actual table, allows students to see the amount of solar energy production taking place.

The battery bank at the bottom stores the energy, both dispensing it as students use it and keeping it for times when the sun’s rays aren’t as strong.

“The units need no additional electrical source and will operate at night with the power stored in the batteries,” an MU Sustainability Office news release stated.

The solar energy collected by the table is then converted into electrical energy that students can use. With four outlet plugs and two USB ports, a total of six outlets are located on the table.

The table also has a lighting option in the absence of daylight, so students can take advantage of the set-up without worrying about visibility.

The table is constructed from recycled materials, according to the Solar Doks website.

According to EnerFusion Inc., other Solar Doks are located on college campuses, primarily in outdoor parks and outdoor eating establishments.

The Solar Dok is funded by the Student Fee Capital Improvement Committee and sponsored by the MU Sustainability Office and Campus Dining Services.

Freshman Zach Suchman said he thinks the table should be placed elsewhere on campus. He said he would like the table to be outside the MU Student Center or Ellis Library.

“I think it’d be better in a more central location,” Suchman said.

Freshman Erin Taylor said she understands the appeal of the Solar Dok, but isn’t a fan of its location.

“I definitely get the appeal of it,” Taylor said. “But it’s in a random location. I’d be more likely to use it if it was somewhere that people study a lot.”