Portable Generators - Backup Power for Emergencies
When the power goes out, these portable devices can keep your home working and your family safe.
A common question for people electrifying their homes is "What happens when the power goes out?" This is a legitimate concern as more and more of our household appliances rely on electricity for operation.
During a power outage, all electrical appliances like heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, air conditioners and refrigerators will not work. Even gas appliances including furnaces and most gas water heaters require electricity to operate. A sustained winter power outage can lead to frozen water pipes, and a summer outage can lead to dangerously high indoor temperatures. Fortunately there are many options available today to help you get through a power outage safely and comfortably.
Backup power systems are typically either electric battery-based or fossil fuel-powered. In this webinar we’ll discuss the variety of options that are available today, some that are on the near horizon, and how they compare in terms of price and capability. We’ll cover portable standalone batteries, large home battery systems that can be used with or without solar panels, natural gas generators and portable gasoline or propane generators. We will spend the most time exploring portable generators, the option that currently delivers the largest power output for the money.
In order to prepare your home to work with a backup generator, you will need to make some adjustments to your home electrical panel.
Join us as we dive into this important topic and answer these questions and more:
What are the types of backup power options available?
How do they compare on price and power output capability?
What are the pros and cons of each type of system?
Why are portable generators such a good value?
What electrical work is required to make a home ready to utilize these backup options?
What are the features to consider when choosing a portable generator?
How big a generator do you need to power a home?
What backup power options are coming in the future?
Download our helpful Backup Power for Emergencies fact sheet
This webinar is part of the Electrify Now “Go Electric!” series developed in partnership with LEARN. Find more Go Electric! webinars with information and tips on other important electrification topics here.
LEARN is a San Diego-based workforce education and training program that has partnered with Electrify Now to offer free energy efficiency and electrification webinars. Please visit the LEARN website for more information: www.sandiegolearn.com
Hosts and Panelist:
Brian Stewart - Brian co-founded Electrify Now to help energy consumers and homeowners learn about the benefits of electrification. He has over 40 years of experience in product design, engineering, manufacturing and sustainability and held many leadership roles at Nike Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation.
Joe Wachunas - In addition to his work for Electrify Now, Joe is a Program Manager for the New Buildings Institute, managing the Advanced Water Heating Initiative. He is a frequent contributor to CleanTechnica writing articles about topics relating to electrification and clean energy. Joe and his family use their own home to experiment and learn about all electric solutions, solar power and EVs.
Daniel Eulberg, Conduit Electric - Daniel holds a General Journeyman Electrician license and serves as an estimator and project manager at Conduit Electric. Daniel has been in the electrical field since 2011 and is fascinated with all things electrical. He is responsible for scheduling a team of 7 electricians, providing estimates, and providing design consultation for customers. Daniel takes particular interest in electric cars, energy generation at home, and reducing wasteful energy consumption in customer's homes.
This webinar is part of Sustainable Building Week, a week of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events to break down siloed thinking to improve cross-disciplinary education, connectivity and future collaboration to promote sustainable practices and design across the city of Portland and beyond. The seventh annual Sustainable Building Week takes place October 7 -11, 2024. For more information, visit sustainablebuildingweek.com.
