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Arlene's Solar Furnace


In 2008, Arlene built a Solar Furnace, a structure that uses concentrated solar energy to produce high temperatures, to heat her farm in Pennsylvania, USA. Ray and Webster are fascinated by the ad-hoc approaches found in DIY, hobbyist activities in particular the kind epitomised by Arlene's project which measuring 24ft by 8ft her project was pretty incredible. Arlene's construction of the furnace, the use of regular non-specialist materials, and her matter of fact description of the project uploaded online inspired Ray & Webster to explore the approaches behind the furnaces construction. They replicated Arlene's project working as closely to as possible to the original specifications of the furnace (although perhaps in keeping with the approach of the original they improvised many of the construction processes and materials used). The project was installed as part of Goonhilly Village Green, Goohnilly, Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, UK.


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