re: Power
They're still working on the home generator concepts. I've seen some natural gas fired systems in national parks and the like. Ballard has this unit, but 1 KW is pretty puny for a house. Their hydrogen-fueled portable power supplies are kind of cool.
Other outfits worth checking out are PlugPower and FuelCell Energy. Still nothing you can pick up at Home Depot, but wait for it.
Solar cells: check this site out. Uses Ovshinsky's amorphous silicon technology.