There Will Be a Home Backup Generator Convenient for Renters
Power system problems are not new, but whole-home power backup systems are. Having emergency power on hand is a great idea, but power supplies are also expensive, difficult to move, and a clutter. Biolite , a new power backup brand on the market, has created a less expensive, simpler, and renter-friendly solution that they will be showcasing at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) January 7-10.
Traditional backup generators are large and heavy.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen the release of giant energy generators from Anker Solix, Ecoflow, and others called “Whole House Backup.” These hefty, barely portable devices don’t require solar power (though they are compatible); they can charge by connecting to your wall. When you need them, you’ll move them to the sweet spot in your home or office, and they’ll act as a battery backup for several appliances in your home, from your refrigerator to your microwave. They have amazing power and strength, but they are heavy, weighing about 80 pounds, and take up a lot of space. If you’ve ever used a backup generator, you know that this also means extension cords running throughout the house.
One solution was to connect these backup generators directly to your circuit breaker, so that if the power went out, the entire house would automatically switch to your backup generator, acting like a giant UPS (uninterruptible power supply). While this is ideal since you don’t have to move things around or plug them in and out, you can’t actually wire directly into the breaker box—you need an extra panel to do that. This setup is expensive, so now you’ve spent money on a backup generator, subpanel hardware, and installing it all.
Biolite batteries offer greater flexibility
Biolite completely eliminates middlemen. Although their generators have the same power output as traditional whole-house generators, they are flattened (less than three inches thick) and lighter. Instead of storing them in a closet, you install them where you will use them, and the installation is a DIY affair. The flat profile allows them to be stored in a variety of locations, and the Biolites can be stored or installed in almost any orientation, so they will fit in most spaces. The battery is enclosed in a way—with a corrugated aluminum heatsink—that maintains temperature and keeps dust out without much air flow.
You must keep the Biolite plugged into the wall and your appliances plugged into the Biolite. Once a power outage occurs, Biolite acts like a UPS, switching power so quickly that representatives say most devices will not go offline or lose power. This doesn’t just apply to your refrigerator – the Biolite base unit has an extension cord that can be attached to any magnetized surface and connect other appliances to it.
Good backup solution for tenants
What the Biolite has in common with other backup generators is that you can daisy chain batteries together to get more kilowatt hours. Each Biolite has a power of about 1.5 kW, but if you connect them together you get up to 10 kW. You don’t have to keep them in the kitchen either: you can place bioliths throughout the house, placing them in small spaces near the items you need while waiting for them to take effect. The app helps you manage all your bioliths and informs you when they are in use or not, so even if you are not at home, you will know if there is a power outage. Since there is no permanent installation, this gives renters the opportunity to have power backup throughout their home, which they can then take with them when they move.
How Power Backup Can Help You Save Money
An added benefit of a power backup is that you can use it for “network gaming.” Many people have “time of use” plans with their power company, so electricity costs more at certain times of the day or during certain weather events. During this time, you can switch to Biolite backup by turning off the power grid and using the backup battery instead, which should save you money.
Biolite batteries will be released this summer. The main battery alone will cost $2,100, and the main battery plus an optional Biolite will cost $3,000, but since they are considered an “installed solution” they are eligible for a 30% tax credit.