In December 2020, SoCalGas announced plans to build a home that would demonstrate what the future of your home’s energy system could look like.  One year later, that project is another step closer to completion. Recently, the SoCalGas [H2] Hydrogen Home team toured the ConnectHomes facility in San Bernardino, where the modular home is being built, to witness the progress being made.

Not only is the home being built in Southern California, all building materials are being sourced from right here in the Golden State.  The home is being constructed to LEED-platinum standards. LEED consultants are closely involved with the construction process, helping to keep the project on track and up to the strict platinum standards.

The nearly 2000 sq. ft. home is the first demonstration project with solar panels, a battery, an electrolyzer to convert solar energy to green hydrogen and a fuel cell to supply electricity for the home.  The green hydrogen will also be blended with natural gas and used in the home’s heat pump HVAC unit, water heater, clothes dryer, and gas stove. 

In essence, the [H2] Hydrogen Home acts as a miniature microgrid – providing resilient power when energy is needed.  The home’s energy system is an example of a long duration clean energy storage and low-carbon distributed power system.  If this energy system was constructed on a larger scale, it could power residential neighborhoods and businesses. 

Last summer, Fast Company named the [H2] Hydrogen Home one of its world-changing ideas for 2021.

We expect to break ground on the home’s foundation and take delivery of the modules in March of this year.