Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/139675
SPECIAL/REPORT | by Howard Shingle | Call for Backup If a home is to be a shelter, it must be strong, secure and—increasingly—powered. Home Generators are poised to be the next biggest-selling storm mitigation product. As so many regions of the United States have experienced in just the last several months, the loss of electrical power can be widespread and long lasting following a severe weather event. Automatic standby home generators can keep pumps, HVAC systems, refrigerators, lights and security systems operating during a storm and throughout the often long and challenging cleanup period afterwards. "Simply put, an automatic standby generator is the most convenient way to keep [a] family safe and comfortable when a storm knocks out the power. It keeps the home powered so the family can maintain a sense of normalcy as they cleanup after the storm occurs," says Amanda Grandy, marketing manager for Briggs & Stratton, the exclusive licensee of GE Generator Systems. "Given that electric power is no longer a luxury in our increasingly connected society, backup power for homes is becoming more critical than ever," says Russ Minick, executive vice president, residential products, Generac Power Systems, Inc. "The best option," he adds, "is a permanently installed automatic backup generator." Ready When Needed Standby home generators have many things going for them including flexible installation, ease of use, multiple power ranges and durability. Another strongpoint is fuel flexibility. "Home generators do not require constant refueling like a portable generator," Grandy says. They run, most often, on either LP fuel or natural gas—sources that tend to be reliable in sever weather or afterwards. "The severe weather that knocks out power tends not to have a similar effect on the natural gas infrastructure," notes Minick. He adds, "We had many consumers in New York and New Jersey with natural gas-fueled home backup generators share their running times with us. One customer told us his generator had been running for 18 straight days." With the option of an automatic transfer switch to the home's electric panel, a standby home generator can start up during an electrical service interruption, even if the homeowner were not in the house, possibly due to an evacuation. This feature makes home generators "very valuable in a world where storms are becoming more severe and more capricious," Minick says. Residential generators come in a range of power outputs— Home generator systems have many strong points including flexible fuel and installation options and a range of power outputs. 16 STORM & SECuRITY PROTECTION / FORECAST 2013