Here’s the start of and a couple of pieces from a handy introduction to the SolarPunk phenomenon from a Chicago-based tech recruitment firm: it seems, then, that all sorts are taking an interest:

Search “solarpunk” on Pinterest, scan the #solarpunk hashtag on Tumblr or look at the r/solarpunk subreddit and you’ll likely encounter art, creative stories, mood boards and think pieces on the speculative fiction genre. You may find dramatically geometric towers dotted with rooftop forests or tree-sprouting condos, or even 3D renderings of gargantuan green cities, far easier imagined than built. 

So why, when I ask Jay Springett — longtime co-administrator of solarpunks.net — about what solarpunk looks like in practice, does he talk about an old phone box that was converted into a seed library?

“That wouldn’t be out of place in a solarpunk story,” Springett said. “But also it’s real life.”

The humble example gets to the true crux of solarpunk. It centers ecological responsibility and the actionable practicality of “what can be done in this moment?” It also maintains a fundamentally do-it-yourself impulse — community-minded, self-sustaining and importantly, hopeful.

What Is Solarpunk?

In the words of solarpunk thinker Rhys Williams, solarpunk stands “against a shitty future.” It implies the planet is on the clock and there’s just no time for fashionable pessimism.

What Does Solarpunk Look Like?

Greentech, walkable cities, sprawling plant life and an abundance of sunshine are frequent sights when it comes to the solarpunk aesthetic. A solarpunk society aims to be equally communal, sustainable and technologically advanced. The nature of solarpunk is often framed in direct contrast to cyberpunk, a dystopian futuristic aesthetic emphasizing urban decay, heavy corporate influence and xenophobic traits. Solarpunk at its core highlights the importance of people and the partnership between human intelligence and the surrounding earth to better humankind.

Solarpunk and Decentralized Networks

Perhaps the most important strain is decentralization. By the nature of their design, decentralized platforms would likely stand more durable than those atop traditional network architecture in the event of catastrophe. That’s because there isn’t a central “brain” controlling the body.

Solarpunk Architecture and Technology

Of course, you can’t talk about solarpunk and technology for long without getting into solar tech. But the relationship is more complex than, “solar is good; buy some panels.”

Will Solarpunk Be a Reality?

“I have always considered solarpunk to be focused on the practical as opposed to the wishful thinking,” Springett said. “And it’s a discussion that’s becoming more and more prominent.”

What Is Solarpunk? A Guide to the Practical Movement. | Built In

…