New Jersey residence runs on solar generated hydrogen.

[NNadir]

Wow. Whoopeeeeeeeeee. Hot dog.

The Hopewell Project is an organization of private citizens advocating the adoption of renewable energy technologies. The Hopewell Project does not advocate a particular renewable energy technology.

The Solar-Hydrogen Residence that has been set up and is operation in Hopewell, New Jersey combines photovoltaic solar, electrolyzer, fuel cell, computer software, and other technologies that have been carefully selected to work in concert to make the renewable energy installation 100% reliant on renewable energy sources for the home's energy needs, negating the need for utility delivered non-renewable energy sources.

The New Jersey project, which opened in October 2006 after four years of planning and building, cost around $500,000, some $225,000 of which was provided by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. The project also got equipment and expertise from a number of commercial sponsors including Exide, which donated some $50,000 worth of batteries, and Swagelok, an Ohio company that provided stainless steel piping costing around $28,000. Michael Strizki, the project promoter, kicked in about $100,000 of his own money.

In the summer, the solar panels generate 60% more electricity than the super-insulated house needs. The excess is stored in the form of hydrogen which is used in the winter--when the solar panels can't meet all the domestic demand--to make electricity in the fuel cell.

At half a million dollars, it's a remarkable bargain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hopewell_Project

[Occulus]

1. Solar is expensive. It's not so efficient yet, either...

I'm putting my money on Dr. Bussard's IEC fusion reactor myself.

[MH1]

2. Considering what traditional homes cost in my area

and that this is a proof of concept project, it really isn't all that expensive.

There's lots of folks with good jobs who buy $500K homes. (they must be. somebody must be buying them.)

[MH1]

3. Goal for 2008 - turnkey system for cost of midrange auto

for installation on existing home.

Sounds like a worthwhile project to me. Too bad the folks who agree and buy this won't be driving up the demand for nuclear or coal power. That will frost some industry shills, for sure.

[jpak]

4. Huzzah!!

:thumbsup:

At least someone in New Jersey gets it.

:evilgrin:

[NNadir]

5. Apparently a rich trust fund brat.

It's not like the people of Camden have half a million bucks lying around with which to buy toys.