The Essential Element, a Hopewell, N.J.-based company, has put “off the grid” on the radar. The company’s combination of new technologies in water purification and energy generation has led to the creation of HYDRA, a 20,000-gal-per-day water purifier the company claims is the first self-sustainable, portable water filtration system.
In their regular jobs at Oil Free Now LLC, Woodbury, Conn., David Squires and Brad Carlson were developing a water filtration system when they came across a patented solar and hydrogen energy system invented by Mike Strizki. For four years, Strizki has used the system to live “off the grid” in his Hopewell home. The house uses photovoltaic panels to charge batteries as well as to power an electrolytic action that breaks water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The elements also can be recombined to produce purified water. Hydrogen is used in a fuel cell to produce electricity during dark hours to power and heat the home.