Michael Strizki is able to heat and cool his house and run various appliances, including power-hungry ones like a hot tub and wide-screen TV, without paying for utilities. His ordinary-looking family home in western New Jersey is the first in the US to demonstrate that a blend of solar and hydrogen power can produce enough electricity for a household. The Hopewell Project, named after a nearby town, is addressing concerns about US energy security and the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels. Gian-Paolo Caminiti of Renewable Energy International, the project's commercial branch, believes that people are aware of climate change but may not know how to address it. He emphasizes the emotional satisfaction that comes from making environmentally friendly choices. Strizki operates a 3,000-square-foot house using electricity from solar power generated by photovoltaic cells on a nearby building. The excess energy is stored as hydrogen in tanks for use in the winter when solar panels can't meet all the demand. In addition to powering his house, Strizki uses the hydrogen to fuel his car, which is also pollution-free. Despite solar power currently only contributing 0.1 percent of US energy needs, the number of installations is growing and the cost of making solar panels is decreasing. As costs decrease and the search intensifies for clean alternatives to costly and polluting fossil fuels, some analysts are predicting that solar energy will experience significant growth in the next five to 10 years. The New Jersey project, which was completed in October 2006 after four years of planning and construction, had a total cost of around $500,000, with $225,000 of that funding coming from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. New Jersey, a leading advocate for renewable energy, has a goal of having 20 percent of its energy derived from renewables by 2020 and currently has the second largest number of solar-power installations in the US, behind only California. The state's utility regulator supported the project as it aligns with their renewable-energy objectives, according to Doyal Siddell, a spokesperson for the agency. "The solar-hydrogen residence project presents a significant opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change," Siddell stated. The project received support from various commercial sponsors, such as Exide and Swageloc, who donated equipment worth thousands of dollars. Strizki also contributed around $100,000 of his own money. While the initial cost may be prohibitive for most, the project is intended to be replicated at a lower cost. After covering research and design expenses, the estimated price for replication would be around $100,000. However, this is still considered too expensive for widespread replication, according to Marchant Wentworth from the Union of Concerned Scientists. In order for such installations to become widespread, they would need to have the capability to sell excess power back to the grid, creating a source of income that could attract investment, according to Wentworth. Caminiti suggests that the cost of a hydrogen/solar system comes out to be approximately $4,000 annually when the $100,000 initial cost is divided over the 25-year expected lifespan. This is significantly higher than the average yearly energy expenditure of $1,500 for the typical American homeowner, as reported by the federal government. Even when factoring in the average annual cost of gasoline for a car, which is around $1,000, the renewable energy option remains more expensive than the combination of grid electricity and gasoline. Strizki and his team view the house as more than just a financial investment. They see it as a way to promote energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels from the Middle East. Additionally, they believe it is important to lead a sustainable lifestyle that does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Strizki, who is 51 years old, considers this project to be his life's purpose, stating, "I have devoted myself to improving the planet."