Anyone who has experienced a few power outages can attest to the importance of having a backup plan for keeping a home’s most vital systems functioning. The consequences of power outages range from mildly inconvenient to potentially deadly depending on the household.
When the power goes out, residents who rely on electrically powered medical devices are left without the machines they need. Even in households where all the residents are healthy, frequent or prolonged outages can cause a lot of trouble. Remember: it’s not just the lights that go out, but also the refrigerator, air conditioner or heater, water pumps in the plumbing, and other support systems.
Dealing with frequent outages and want to improve the household’s energy independence? Read on to find out why a solar backup generator will provide maximum protection against outages compared to either traditional fuel-powered generators or standalone home battery backup systems.
Capable of Providing Ongoing Power
A home battery backup tied into the grid can only store so much power. If the electricity is out for just a few hours, a grid-tied backup battery should be able to keep the home’s most vital systems running just fine. However, if that outage extends into the multiple-day range, residents can only put off the inevitable.
Once the grid-tied battery runs out of juice, it’s lights out. That’s not the case with a solar generator. Since the battery is tied to solar panels, it can continue to power the home for as long as needed during a power outage provided there’s sufficient sunlight and the system is properly sized.
Ongoing Savings
Homes outfitted with solar panels and batteries can use them year-round, not just during power outages. Depending on the size of the system and the average weather patterns in the area, households can provide up to 100% of their power, substantially reducing their reliance on the grid. In some places, families with solar arrays can even sell their unused power back to local energy providers.
Solar-powered battery banks are more expensive than conventional generators or solely grid-tied batteries. The ability to cut back on monthly bills helps homeowners recoup the cost of that initial investment over time. There’s no need for buying the fuel or providing the substantial ongoing maintenance required to keep fuel-powered generators running, either, so the savings can really add up.
Systems Can Be Combined
Some modern families are embracing a hybrid approach to emergency power generation. They’re purchasing both batteries and fuel-powered generators to combine all the most impressive benefits of solar with the peace of mind of having a more traditional backup generator.
Knowing that the household can keep running as usual even if a serious storm knocks out not just the municipal grid, but also the area’s access to consistent sunlight, can be a huge benefit. Combined solar and fuel-powered battery backups are quieter than standard generators, provide more consistent power than solar-only backup systems, and are surprisingly inexpensive to maintain and operate.
Learn More Today
Homeowners who want to improve their families’ energy independence should always consult a professional in the field before deciding on a final solution. Try to find a company that installs both solar systems and fuel-powered generators, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about different backup systems. Every household has a different set of needs, so there’s no one solution that’s right for all modern families.