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Solar Power Eliminates Utility Bills in U.S. Home

Posted by Zonk on from the i-have-a-raid-tonight-can-i-borrow-a-cup-of-sunlight dept.

skyhawker writes "Yahoo! News is running an article about a New Jersey home that uses solar power to provide 100% of its energy needs, including fuel for the owner's hydrogen fuel cell-powered automobile. From the article: 'Strizki runs the 3,000-square-foot house with electricity generated by a 1,000-square-foot roof full of photovoltaic cells on a nearby building, an electrolyzer that uses the solar power to generate hydrogen from water, and a number of hydrogen tanks that store the gas until it is needed by the fuel cell. In the summer, the solar panels generate 60 percent 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.'"

20 of 743 comments (clear)

  1. I wonder... by Ziwcam · · Score: 5, Funny

    How MY neighbors would feel if I loaded up their roof with solar cells...

    1. Re:I wonder... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Not to worry. The energy company lobbyists on are already hard at work getting laws passed to prevent any energy self-sufficiency that looks like it will work.

    2. Re:I wonder... by rolfwind · · Score: 3, Funny

      If you were my neighbor, I'd let you:) I might even let you have any excess electricity after my needs are met>:)

    3. Re:I wonder... by Panaflex · · Score: 4, Funny

      I don't think they be quite so worried about that as they would the large tanks of hydrogen sitting in the back yard.

      Somewhere in the world there's going to be a reddish explosion on the horizon...

      --
      I said no... but I missed and it came out yes.
    4. Re:I wonder... by HTTP+Error+403+403.9 · · Score: 2, Funny
      I don't think they be quite so worried about that as they would the large tanks of hydrogen sitting in the back yard.


      Somewhere in the world there's going to be a reddish explosion on the horizon...

      Oh, the humanity!
      --
      I'm not a Troll, it's reverse psychology.
  2. Just a half million dollars! by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'll get right on that!

  3. One small problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    He eliminated his electric bill, but couldn't eliminate the fact that he is in New Jersey.

  4. Big deal, I eliminated all utility costs in my by antifoidulus · · Score: 3, Funny

    place by not paying the bill 6 months in a row. It's amazing, your monthly electric costs will drop to 0 very quickly!

    --
    Monstar L
    1. Re:Big deal, I eliminated all utility costs in my by That's+Unpossible! · · Score: 2, Funny

      place by not paying the bill 6 months in a row. It's amazing, your monthly electric costs will drop to 0 very quickly!

      As will your energy usage!

      --
      Ironically, the word ironically is often used incorrectly.
    2. Re:Big deal, I eliminated all utility costs in my by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      How are you posting on slashdot without any power?

  5. Re:Okay, good idea, but this sucks by UbuntuDupe · · Score: 5, Funny

    Move to a neighborhood without a draconian HOA.

    And use a secure version of Windows, an honest attorney, or a Hooters franchise that doesn't debase women.

    --
    Apology to Ubuntu forum.
  6. Re:At $500,000... How long to pay back the cost? by AnotherHiggins · · Score: 5, Funny
    You pulled that number out of your butt very authoritatively.
    It will likely be yet another 15-20 years before solar power is a viable option for the average homeowner.
  7. Oh the humanity. by Rob+T+Firefly · · Score: 4, Funny

    A big tank of pure hydrogen gas in your basement, eh? That's great! I don't see what could possibly go wrong with that.

    In fact, you should celebrate a job well done. Have a cigar!

    /run

    --
    Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
  8. Re:Okay, good idea, but this sucks by Directrix1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I believe you underestimate the number of fascist bastions in America.

    --
    Occam's razor is the blind faith in the natural selection of least resistance and in universal oversimplification. -- EF
  9. Or go nuclear by alohatiger · · Score: 1, Funny
    It's probably possible to spent a few million dollars to build a nuclear power plant AND PAY NO ELECTRIC BILLS!

    Until the economics work, none of this stuff matters.

    /Someday I'll have solar and wind power...

    --
    Bigtime Consulting - "We're the best because we cost the most"
  10. Re:At $500,000... How long to pay back the cost? by Xaoswolf · · Score: 4, Funny
    It would still be generating it as the solar system broke down in 25 years.

    If the solar system breaks down in 25 years, I don't think I'll be worrying about money in the bank...

    --
    Xaotik Designs
  11. Re:At $500,000... How long to pay back the cost? by shaitand · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't be silly, you'd just toss the batteries in the trash like you do now.

  12. Riiiiiight... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    There's more to life than money... Only people with a lot of money say that.
  13. Re:At $500,000... How long to pay back the cost? by cheezit · · Score: 3, Funny

    Clearly the photons are defective and are falling on to the floor soon after they leave the fixture. Have you tried greasing the air? They would slide farther.

    --
    Premature optimization is the root of all evil
  14. Re:At $500,000... How long to pay back the cost? by clanky · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's all well and good, but you need to factor in the hidden cost of no one wanting to sleep with someone driving a beat-up 12 yeaer old geo metro. Wheras the prius dude can't beat off the actresses and hippiechicks.