Comment by blamazon

In japan some rural households use propane solid oxide fuel cells in this manner. Instead of combusting the fuel, which is loud, it’s pushed through a piece of exotic ceramic which causes a chemical reaction that splits the fuel into hydrogen gas and water vapor—the resulting free electrons are used for electricity, the hydrogen gas is used as a home/water heater and to keep the ceramic fuel cell at its reaction temperature, and the water vapor is simply vented.