Welcome to Haven

People want to be outside, whether they’re working, eating or hanging out.
So, they need space, shade, and shelter.

And they need power.

 
 
 
 

Haven is for togetherness...or distance.

At the office or on campus. At the park, soccer field, or concert.

Find abundant solar energy for phones and laptops. Or speakers, or scooters. Batteries keep you powered for days... and nights, with Haven’s elegant lighting.

Haven is flexible. Opt for a standing-height table or a large seating area. Add internet access or e-bike charging. Signs and digital content deliver your clean energy message.



"Catawba College is the proud owner of seven Haven solar shelters. Our students use them as comfortable, shady places to study and meet. And they love plugging into clean energy. The Havens are a complement to our leadership in environmental education and practice."

    - Executive Director, Center for the Environment

 
 
 

Shade and Comfort

Haven offers a large canopy over a generous table and seating, made of of beautiful, durable materials that stay cool.

Solid ash wood seating, thermally enhanced for a long life

Exterior-grade solid surface counter top with interior-grade look and feel

Seating for eight, no center pole obstruction

Equitable wheelchair access with optional space between seats

 
 

Solar Energy at the Ready

Bi-facial solar panels make clean energy from the top and the bottom sides. They power 20 places to charge up, along with tasteful LED lighting. For cloudy weather, there’s battery backup for three days. Lithium batteries recharge quickly and last for 15 years or more.

 

4 wireless

8 120V outlets

4 USB A

4 USB C

Program on/off times

 

Clean Energy Statement

Haven makes solar power beautiful and encourages care for the environment.

 
 
 
 

Signs and digital content

Amplify your message

Upper position for brand sponsorship

Lower positions for user engagement

 

Haven is Flexible

Configurations and accessories

Split bench seating for wheelchair access

Integrated LED lighting with increased battery capacitySmall or large signs

Standing height table

Large bench, seating only

E-bike, scooter charging and locking rail

Custom finish color

Remote Management Kit

 

Haven is for places with people

office buildings

colleges

retail

mixed use

multifamily

venues

stadiums

zoos

amphitheaters

theme parks

city hall

parks

schools

transit stations

convention centers

 
 

Click or touch to spin the 3D model below. Shift+Click or use two fingers to slide.

 
 
 

Dimensions

 
 

Generous Cost Recoveries

The Inflation Reduction Act has greatly reduced the cost of solar and battery storage systems. Both taxable and tax-exempt organizations can qualify for 40% or more recoveries of project costs. And rapid depreciation allowances under MACRS rules make the recoveries even greater for taxable business. Please inquire with Spotlight Solar and your tax professional about whether your purchase of Haven may qualify for these benefits.

 

Installing Haven is easy

The experts below did it in less than two minutes. But you should probably plan on about half a day.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Please click to download the Haven brochure.

  • The table is like a fine kitchen counter: smooth and beautiful. It is solid surface countertop material, composed mostly of pre-consumer recycled content. It stays cool in sunlight and resists fading from UV. The material is highly weather resistant and durable. If it gets scratched, it can be refinished.

  • The benches are made of solid ash wood which has been thermally modified using heat and pressure (no chemicals), to protect it from weathering for 20+ years. The benches are comfortable and cool. This is the same material that is used by high-end outdoor furniture makers.

  • Yup, Haven has a lot bigger canopy than typical table umbrellas. That’s mostly to keep you shaded, but it also keeps the rain off… as long as the rain isn’t coming in sideways.

  • Category 5 hurricanes, yes. Tornadoes may involve flying livestock… so, no.

  • Yes. The solar panels have been tested to withstand impact forces 5 times greater than required by the ISO/IEC 61215 international standard. They will not be broken by 39 mm diameter hail (about ping pong ball size) traveling at 28 meters per second (terminal velocity).

  • 1035 lbs. But all components are light enough for a single person to carry during installation.

  • A few simple bolts into an existing concrete pad will be sufficient, even for hurricane zones.

    In some lower wind zones, no attachment is needed, although most owners will choose to bolt it down, to guard against ambitious pranksters trying to move it. At over 1000 lbs, they’d better bring a lot of friends.

    Spotlight Solar will provide specifications and attachment hardware appropriate to your surface and local wind speeds. We also offer anchors for un-paved surfaces. We do not recommend installing on grass, as the weed whackers will abuse the paint.

  • Yes. If you’re just adjusting its position on your property, you can use furniture dollies, a few friends, and caution. If you want to take it to another property, you’ll need to disassemble further and lift it onto a trailer. Give us a call, and we’ll share some insights from experience. So, yes you can move it, but you wouldn’t want to move it every week.

  • Yes, very. Haven has been certified by structural engineers to weather Category 5 hurricanes. The structure is all aluminum, which naturally resists corrosion, and coated with powder coating rated AAMA 2604 for the most difficult weathering conditions. All electrical components are marine grade, including the wireless charging pads. The hardwood benches are thermally modified for 20+ years of weather resistance, a material used in high-end decks and outdoor furniture. The table is made from weather-resistant solid surface countertop material. Lithium batteries are expected to last 15+ years (vs. 5 for AGM/lead acid) The batteries and electronics are up off the ground to avoid flooding. And the solar panels have a 30 year warranty.

  • Haven is made of aluminum, so it won’t rust. And for shoreline locations, we apply a clear coat on top of super-durable powder coat rated 2604 by the AAMA standard for Florida Weathering. All electrical parts are marine grade, and are up off the ground to avoid flooding.

  • Maintenance required is minimal, including cleaning of surfaces. The wood benches will take on a silver patina over time, but remain sound for many years. If you'd like to restore the original color of the seating, they can be refinished easily with Cutek.

  • Haven has been thoughtfully engineered for safety. The power outlets weather rated and GFCI. The lithium batteries are the safest chemistry, according to the FAA. The batteries and electronics are in a fully enclosed, fire-proof aluminum container that also acts as a heat sink to keep components cool. All wires are hidden and inaccessible. All access doors are fastened by security bolts. The table has been engineered to hold 500 pounds of college students. The solar panels are rated for 175 MPH winds, and are composed of tempered glass bonded to a backsheet. A 300 lbs. person can hang from a solar panel without breaking it (we tested this). If the panels do break (like, if someone hits them with a brick), no glass will fall. And for the sake of toddlers’ heads, the bench tops and table have rounded corners.

    All that said, we can’t solve for stupid. If people abuse Haven, they could find a way to hurt themselves. So, please encourage responsible use.

  • The solar capacity is around 2000 kilowatt hours per year, depending on your location. Haven makes energy to charge its batteries, which in turn power your devices. When the batteries are full, it doesn’t produce more solar energy, so regular use of power for devices and lighting will increase the amount of energy produced.

  • They are tucked neatly under the table, well off the ground to avoid any flooding.

  • Haven’s lithium batteries have several advantages over the AGM batteries commonly used. Lithium recharges much faster, so Haven’s 3-day backup capacity can be restored in a couple of sunny hours. Lithium batteries are small, allowing them to be tucked under the table, while providing high capacity. And the LiFeP04 chemistry we use is the safest, per FAA research. LiFePO4 also has superior performance in below-freezing temperatures. And the batteries are expected to work well for over 15 years; AGM (lead acid) only lasts for 3-5 years.

  • Haven’s lithium batteries have a capacity of 2 kilowatt hours. 90% of that capacity is used (depth of discharge), which is much higher than AGM batteries’ 50%. Haven can output 650 watts on a continuous basis. That’s enough for 10 laptops, or five e-bikes. But it’s not enough for a microwave, so leave that at home. By the way, if you do overtax the power system, it will switch off, until you quit that.

  • Lithium batteries perform well in the widest range of temperatures. Other battery types like lead acid / AGM lose around 50% of their output capacity when the temperature is below freezing, but Haven’s LiFePO4 batteries only lose 10%. It is best not to recharge the batteries below 32F, so Haven’s software keeps that from happening. If there are periods of time when the temperature stays below freezing for many days, it is possible that Haven’s batteries will become depleted — but only if you are using Haven in below-freezing weather a lot. This seems unlikely. BUT.. for such locations (like a ski resort), Spotlight Solar offers a Winter Kit that warms the batteries so that they can be charged anytime there’s sunlight.

  • It technically CAN, but let’s think this through...

    Haven’s battery storage capacity is designed to provide 3+ days of backup power in case of very cloudy weather, anticipating frequent charging of laptops and phones, and use of the lighting at night. So, you’d want to consider whether the compromise to that backup implied by sending energy to power other things would be acceptable.

    Assuming your answer is yes…

    The solar panels will produce more energy than you’ll use for device charging and lighting, so there is extra energy available, especially during the day when the battery will normally be full. Temporarily running power through an extension card from one of Haven’s power outlets is always an option.

    Assuming you would prefer a permanent outfeed of power without creating a tripping hazard…

    You will need to run an underground conduit from Haven to your equipment or building. We can provide a quote for a conduit port under the table and circuit for that, but we’ll need to talk over your situation. If you’d like to interconnect to your building’s AC system, that’s more complicated, and we wonder whether the capacity of the Haven system (a lot for an outdoor shelter, but not much compared to a building’s needs) will be worth the expense and effort.

    That said, we’re open to explore it with you.

  • Haven ships flat packed, like Ikea. It ships in fully contained wooden crates. A forklift or loading dock is required to unload the truck. To move components to installation location, crates can be unpacked and contents carried by two people.

  • Installation is simple and affordable.

    Haven takes three people half a day to install, using ladders and hand/power tools. Those people should have mechanical or construction experience.

    No electrician is required. No heavy equipment is required. And because Haven is a stand-alone system, not connected to your building or grid, it doesn’t need conduit.

    If your organization has skilled people on staff, they could install Haven. A local solar company could also handle it easily. Please contact Spotlight if you need ideas for installers.

  • Certainly. But we did work hard to make the standard colors very tasteful. Let’s talk about it.

  • Yes. Haven provides power and a place to mount electronics under the roof where they will get a clear signal.

  • Owners can control the lighting schedule with a smartphone app. It connects to the system through Bluetooth, so you need to be near the Haven when programming. With the Remote Management Kit, you can also control the and the on/off timing of the power outlets.

  • A phone app will show you what’s happening with Haven’s solar and battery system when you’re next to it. And it enables you to program the lighting on/off times. An optional Remote Management Kit provides these capabilities through an online interface, with more detailed data and the ability to control the power outlets’ on/off times, or remotely turn the system off and on.

  • The outlets and USB ports can be easily replaced, without opening the electronics container under the table.

  • You can buy from Spotlight Solar Certified Integrators or directly from Spotlight.

  • Haven was designed for commercial and public properties, but if you’d like one for your home, let’s talk. Please contact us using the Contact Spotlight link below.

  • Yes, Haven offers a space in the bench seating at your option. The space can be provided on either side, or both (or none). The location of the wheelchair space is a central position, with easy reach to power outlets. The space is also great for strollers.

  • Yes it is. And that means it should qualify for an extra benefit of 10% of purchase price under the Inflation Reduction Act. See your CPA for confirmation.

  • We set out to create the best user experience and best owner experience. So, Haven has the most generous shade area and table, the highest quality materials, and the most comfortable and open design. It has the most ways (20) to power your devices, and the highest performing battery system. It also has the longest warranties, especially for batteries (6 years vs. 3 for the closest alternative) and coating. And we think you’ll agree, it’s the best looking. We hope and believe you will love it.

  • The first time we sat under the prototype, we were struck by the large size of the shade canopy. “This is not a table, it’s a place to be.” And because it can be configured without the table (with a large bench seat), it’s more of a shelter than solar furniture. For some, it will be a solar workspace, or a solar picnic table, or a solar charging station.

  • Our renewable energy CPA has documented his opinion that Haven qualifies for financial benefits provided by the Inflation Reduction Act for off-grid solar systems. This means that the project cost for Haven would be reduced by 30%, for BOTH taxable and tax-exempt organizations. Another 10% of initial cost is recoverable because Haven is made in the U.S. That’s 40% total.

    MACRS depreciation rules allow for highly accelerated deprecation — nearly all in year one. This creates a sizable additional tax benefit to tax payers.

    IMPORTANT NOTE: Our CPA is not your CPA, and neither is Spotlight Solar. Please consult your tax professional to verify your opportunities. And Spotlight Solar is happy to discuss this matter with prospective customers.