Photos: The solar house that Mike built

This 3,000-square-foot New Jersey house is Michael Strizki's life's work. It is run completely independently of the local power grid, using solar panels and a hydrogen storage system.

The solar panels cover the 1,000-square-foot roof of a nearby building. In the summer, the panels generate 60 percent more electricity than the super-insulated house needs.

The project, called the Hopewell Project, cost about $500,000 to plan and build. Owner Strizki contributed $100,000 of his own money to fund the project, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities chipped in with a $225,000 grant, and various commercial sponsors donated equipment such as batteries and piping.