Here’s an idea.  Bang-away at your laptop out on your veranda whilst sipping your morning cocoa without plugging-into the power grid — the Sun Table, a creation of designers Devang A. Shah and Mike Low of Brooklyn, NY,  is a cool idea for those in search of their own little piece of energy independence.

You can work on your laptop whether you’re in the woods, over in the north forty, or on your patio, without having to run extension cords or add any zeros to your electric bill.

The Sun Table is designed for both ease of use, and weather-resistance – you can hose the whole deal down to clean off any loose nachos – and the teak frame, stainless steel legs and outer electronics are all designed for outdoor use – but not during rain storms, hurricanes and serious inclement weather.

The solar cells charge the battery even when partially covered and will provide enough stored power for more than 4 hours of laptop use.  The coffee table-sized unit is hinged to allow for optimal exposure to the sun.

The on-board inverter allows the table to operate like a regular wall outlet.  The voltage meter displays the voltage of the battery, and the hour meter displays the total hours the table has been on.  Its electrical output is 12 volts DC and it will fully charge with 4 hours of direct sunlight exposure.

Besides being a renewable, non-polluting source of electricity, the table is designed to be re-used and recycled when its useful life is over.

H 18″ W 31″ L 54″  Materials:  stainless steel, teak, aluminum, fiberglass, acrylic, and silicon solar cells.

Get an extra charge — Sun Table would definitely be a great conversation starter at your next barbecue.