1. Utility Free Sustainable Homes
By Richard Cazales
Course: ECON 2505
Section: D728
Professor: S. MacDonald

2. I will be focusing on 3 subsystems that are both economic and earth friendly for utility free sustainable homes. The three systems are: - Solar Panel & Electrical Storage systems - Rain water collection and filtration techniques - Hydrogen generation through electrolysis
The integration of these subsystems can provide electricity, heating, gas and clean water for an entire home, hence making it ‘utility-free’. The main goal is to bring awareness and encourage young entrepreneurs to become installers and providers of such a system. Why? Because this can drastically reduce carbon emissions and sewer overflow in the New York City and create job growth for many young college students.

3. Hydrogen House Project in New Jersey

4. Solar Economics

5. Solar Economics
The average 3ft x 5ft solar panel outputs about 180 Watts.
According to U.S Energy Information Administration, in 2014, the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was
10,932 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year
911 kWh per month
30kWh per day.
2.5kW to 3 kW per hour
The average amount of sunshine per day is about 14 hours
This would mean your solar panels need to generate between (about 15 to 25 solar panels) 3kWh to have a net zero household. A solar array system in that range can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000.

6. Solar Tiles

7. Solar Economics
A simple calculation can help determine whether or not investing in solar panels is a smart option. The formula is:
Payback Time = (Cost of Solar Panel Array & Materials) / (Cost of Average Energy Use per Year)
According to U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average household electricity bill is about $1,250 per year
So… ($10,000)/($1250/year) = 8+ years
The payback time may be an extra 2-4 years longer if you decide to invest in Tesla batteries or supercapacitors, if you would like to store this electrical energy for a rainy day.

8. SEWER OVERFLOW

11. Hydrogen Generation by Electrolysis

12. Hydrogen Cooking

13. Electric & Hydrogen Cars

14. Conclusion

15. Bibliography
Current Results (n.d.). Average Annual Sunshine by City. Retrieved May 17, 2016, from
D. Samaroo. Interviewed May 11, 2016.
McCluney, R., Dr, (2007, October 24). Justifying the Cost of Solar. Retrieved April 5, 2016, from   
NYC Department of Environmental Protection. (n.d.) Rain Barrel Giveaway Program. Retrieved April 05, 2016, from
Pure Energy Centre. (n.d.). Hydrogen cooker. Retrieved April 05, 2016, from
Solar Power Rocks. (n.d.). Square feet solar roof. Retrieved May 17, 2016, from
U.S. Energy Information Administration (n.d.). State Briefs. Retrieved May 17, 2016, from