North America’s first clean hydrogen powered microgrid and home was completed in October 2022. The nearly 2,000-sq-ft home serves as a demonstration of hydrogen’s capabilities when used in pure form or as a blend to fuel energy systems. The microgrid features a 70-kW solar array and a 264-kWh battery energy storage system.

To maintain the project’s aggressive schedule, the team implemented several practices to help reduce the overall completion window. The modular home was built off site and set in six sections. Separating work into seven city permitting packages maximized the work that could be accomplished while design was still underway.

To maximize the amount of work that could be done prior to receiving city permits for the foundations, ARB reverse-formed the deep foundations, backfilled with sand and cement slurry, and stripped the forms to provide block-outs for these deep foundations so work could progress at multiple elevations simultaneously once permits were received.

While first-of-its-kind microgrid technology powers the house, to maximize energy and environmental savings, the project also uses greywater and rainwater catchment, light colored surfaces for maximum solar reflectivity, weather-based irrigation control and a selection of sustainable building materials throughout.