The image on the bottom was taken during a San Diego power outage. All of the lights seen on in the bottom picture are from back up power generators.
A power generator is an item that you typically don’t realize you need until you’re in the middle of a situation where you would need it most: A power outage. Many of us have been spoiled with non-stop electricity for most of our lives; we don’t usually think about times without it on a regular basis.
Recently there have been two big outages: One in the USA and one in India.
Near the end of June 2012 a massive storm swept across Eastern regions of the US leaving nearly 4 million without power across seven states and the District of Columbia in the middle of a heat wave. Those without power (and without power generators) resorted to using cooling stations set up by local churches, schools, and county centers.
A month later came a much bigger power outage, this time in India, where 670 million people were left without power when three major power grids collapsed. 670 million people is about 10% of the world’s population.
Whether we think about them or not, power outages happen and many of us aren’t prepared. Part of being prepared is having flashlights, extra batteries, a supply of clean water, etc., but having a power generator can help keep your food fresh or your fan running. Here are just a few ways a power generator could help you get through a power outage:
- Keep food fresh
- Keep fan or small AC unit running
- Keep a small heater running
- Provide light at night
- Provide power for an emergency situation
- Help keep well water running to the house
How much does a power generator cost?
You can get a small generator for just a few hundred dollars; it would be enough to help keep you cool in the heat or run a small heater in the winter. Some hand crank generators are less than $100, but only produce enough electricity for something with the wattage of a flashlight.
Large power generators are a much bigger investment. Unless you know you’ll need a lot of power when the grid fails (for example, if you’re a hospital or clinic), spending a few hundred on one should suffice; in many cases you can get a power generator for about the same as a new flat screen TV!
Learn more about buying a generator.
Image: Justin in SD