Comments on: Fuel Cells Being Used To Power Japanese Homes

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 23:11:11 +0000

What is overlooked here is the lack of a viable alternative to the status quo; in fact this unit produces as much CO2 as anything on the market, excepting the line-loss issue.

Further, before you waste your money on photovoltaics, know that they a) lose efficiency quickly b) become opaque due to cheap design (plastic versus glass) and c) Wear out (become useless) long before they pay for themselves.

Too bad the eco-nuts wont embrace Nuclear power- it doesnt create ANY CO2, and if many cars were powered thusly (from home) then we would a) solve the terrorist problem (international oil demand would plummet forever) and b) if there is a MANMADE climate issue, this would abruptly, better than anything excepting 300,000,000 poison pills, curb CO2 emissions.

Unfortunately, the sound of words (the FEELINGS) are so persuasive today and the truth is not even approached- we get what we deserve for our collective, pugnacious, self-assured, self-loathing, ignorance.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:37:38 +0000

For the cost of the fuel cell and ongoing fuel purchases, the homeowner would be better off in the long run by going solar, both thermal hot water and photovoltaic.

By: nigel breeze

nigel breeze — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 10:40:54 +0000

i think that these fuel cells may well be a good thing but ultimatly if they depend on gas supplied from utility companies .i think the cost of gas will rocket if the cells prove to loose them revenue from conventional gas use. this i believe is also the case with water generated inventions. most new houses now have water meters, so filling up your car from your own tap would still never be more economical. cars which have been developed to run on water have been around for years but the economical impact on the world have had these inventions buried by governments and other bodies to protect there profits.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:36:38 +0000

I think there is a lot of opportunity for this kind of technology in urban areas around the globe. Places like LA, London and NYC; but they are only as part of the solution. So many other products and technologies must support energy shifts like this one. Solar energy, wind energy, and energy systems we have yet to invent. The college I work for, Art Center, has a lot of students who work on creating new products with greener, sustainable design and functionality. It’s a start I guess. We have a long way to go. Art Center is hosting a major event called “Disruptive Thinking,” which will bring together “disruptive” thinkers who challenge the status quo and demand new modes of creativity in areas that influence every aspect of our lives: climate change, geopolitics, business, science, and most importantly design. Hopefully events like this one will speed up the development process and get people inspired. If you’re interested in it, here’s a link to the blog: http://blog.globaldialogues.eu/

By: vinbeazel

vinbeazel — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:14:16 +0000

the link with this article did not work…want to invite them to post videos on fuel cell at GreenEnergyTV.com

By: Jeff R

Jeff R — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:10:48 +0000

I wish the article was clear on what it is comparing the efficiency of household fuel cells to, when it say they emit one third of the greenhouse gases compared to “conventional electricity generation”. What is conventional? Compared to natural gas generation or to coal? Seems like comparing it to a combination of the latest gas furnace and water heat and gas-generated electricity is the most fair, since that’s the fuel cell’s feedstock, and because that’s what it’s competing with in Japan. But with these fuzzy popular articles you never know…