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Soda Can Solar Furnace Helps Cut Heating Bills

When residents of Westwood, a low-income neighborhood in Denver, were asked what would help them the most, the answer was simple: Help us lower our utility bills.

Engineering students at Metro State University took up that challenge. They designed a furnace that uses recycled materials, is solar powered and costs less than $50 to build — and pennies a day to run.

From the Here & Now Contributors Network, Jenny Brundin of Colorado Public Radio found out how the design is working.

Reporter

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Metro State University students Zyola Mix and Richard Anderson stand with professor Aaron Brown next to solar furnace. (Jessica Taves/Metro State University)
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Metro State University students Zyola Mix and Richard Anderson stand with professor Aaron Brown next to solar furnace. (Jessica Taves/Metro State University)

Metro State University students designed an inexpensive solar furnace to help heat homes in Denver's low-income Westwood neighborhood. (Jessica Taves/Metro State University)
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Metro State University students designed an inexpensive solar furnace to help heat homes in Denver's low-income Westwood neighborhood. (Jessica Taves/Metro State University)

Metro State University students designed an inexpensive solar furnace to help heat homes in Denver's low-income Westwood neighborhood. (Jessica Taves/Metro State University)
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Metro State University students designed an inexpensive solar furnace to help heat homes in Denver's low-income Westwood neighborhood. (Jessica Taves/Metro State University)

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