Candle-powered heater warms homes for five hours

The Egloo heater uses four tealight candles to make a 20mq environment warmer within three to five hours.

With the approaching of winter comes homeowners who are also bracing themselves for looming gas or electricity bills caused by a spike in heating.

Italy-based designers, meanwhile, responded by devising a more environment- and budget-friendly way to provide heat to the home.

Egloo is a compact heater composed of a base, grill and two domes.

The base holds four tealight candles, which are used as the main fuel for heating. Once these are in place, a metal grill is placed above the base and candles to support the two domes, as well as provide enough space to let air in for combustion properties.

The two domes will be placed as a cover for the base and candles, and will facilitate the flow of warm air. These are made of terracotta, which is known for its heat resistance and retention, and high melting point.

The four candles are enough to provide warmth to a 20mq environment for three to five hours. It takes five minutes for the hotter temperature to set in, with a rise of 2 to 3 F every 30 minutes.

The Egloo comes in a natural, enamel or color finish.