AUSTIN, USA – Over the last week, we’ve been writing stories from the annual South by Southwest (SXSW) conference and festival in Austin, Texas. During the music festival, visitors were able to get their phones charged at the Nokia Green Zone which was open to all. But how did it all work?

In the video below, Beth Ferguson from SolDesign Lab explains how the Solar Pump Charging Station works by using solar-powered energy, allowing people to get their phones charged while raising awareness about energy usage. While they charged their phones, visitors were able to use free Wi-Fi. Or if they preferred, just sit down and relax on eco-friendy benches made entirely of recycled Nokia phones.

Probably the most fun way of charging your phone was the 18-foot human hamster-wheel that lets you you charge your mobile by running. Sweaty fun for all concerned, if not entirely practical for an actual product.

Watch the video to learn more about solar panels and to see the big wheel rolling. We hope to see this Zone in action again in an another big event.