City life in Ulsan, South Korea, has become more environmentally friendly thanks to the world’s first “hydrogen apartment complex,” which recently opened in Buk-gu district.

The 437 units of the Yuldong With You apartments are powered entirely by hydrogen fuel cells, which FuelCellsWorks says can not only reduce residents’ electricity bills by 30-40%, but also have a positive impact on the planet.

Large cities like Ulsan, with over a million residents, consume vast amounts of energy to power industries, homes, businesses, transport networks and more. Unfortunately, much of this energy in many cities comes from dirty fuel sources like oil, coal and gas. However, as the United Nations has explained, this is changing rapidly as the energy transition gains momentum.

Apartment complexes like Yuldong With You prove that with a little ingenuity, city life can be both more sustainable and more comfortable. According to Interesting Engineering, the Yuldong Cogeneration Plant, located about a tenth of a mile away, supplies electricity to the apartments. The plant uses hydrogen as a byproduct of nearby industry, effectively generating clean electricity and heat.

Most importantly, this method of hydrogen production is the cheapest option compared to other methods, FuelCellsWorks said. Since the plant first came online in June, it has generated around 840 megawatts of energy worth about 150 million won (over $109,000), meaning hydrogen could be a game-changer when it comes to supplying clean, abundant energy to major cities.

Three container-sized fuel cells on the roof of the complex produce up to 1.32 MW of electricity from around 50 kilograms of hydrogen per hour. Interesting Engineering explained that this is enough energy to supply four average-sized households with electricity per hour for a month.

In addition, the heat generated in the process is captured and stored in a 40-ton, energy-efficient thermal storage tank. The water – which can reach temperatures of up to 70 degrees Celsius – is then piped into the residential units for heating, making the entire process environmentally friendly, according to FuelCellsWorks.

As the outlet explained, Ulsan city authorities are working to make hydrogen-based electricity even more affordable and sustainable by amending the Electricity Business Act, which would give residents direct access to clean energy.

If the law is changed, the Yuldong With You apartments would be completely carbon neutral and would set a precedent for eco-friendly city living.

Developers around the world are proving that living in harmony with nature is possible even in densely populated cities. From Toyota’s hydrogen-powered smart city in Japan to an apartment complex in Switzerland built from recycled concrete and powered by solar, hydro and geothermal energy, green technologies are playing an increasingly important role in modern life.

As more developers and cities switch to these clean energy sources, citizens will be able to save on electricity costs and better protect themselves from extreme weather, which is mainly caused by rising temperatures and pollutant levels.

Plus, it’s undoubtedly cool to be able to say you live in a house or apartment that runs on hydrogen.

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