News 12 at 6 O'Clock, September 9, 2009

AIKEN, S.C. --- Chucker Creek Elementary students helped workers break ground on a new kind of energy-efficient home in an Aiken subdivision. Those students may be the future, but the home is being called a home of the present.

"I wouldn't say it's common, but it's out there," says architect George Watt.

He's talking about hydrogen technology to fuel a home. Electricity at this net zero energy home will come from hydrogen -- the same hydrogen you'll find in water.

"Hydrogen allows us to store the energy from the sun as a gas like propane or natural gas," developer Ron Monahan said.

A much smaller version of the fuel cell was on display at the groundbreaking.

"On sunny days we store energy for night time use," added Monahan.

During bad weather, experts say there will be enough electricity saved for two days. If there's still more needed, electricity will be come from a grid.

The best part may be the electricity bill -- or lack of it.

Said Monahan: "It costs you zero to heat, cool, or light your home."

But questions remain. How long it would take for the zero cost of power to offset the cost of the home is unclear. Estimates are construction costs would be 20 percent more than the average home.

The first home will serve as the model, and developers say two prospective homeowners want the hydrogen home built. Some legislators support the technology as well.

"I hate that skeptics say it's a waste of money, hydrogen research, but i think it's part of the future," said state representative Jim Stewart.