5 Reasons Every Chicago-Area Household Should Have a Standby Generator

1. 5 Reasons Every Chicago-Area Household Should Have a Standby Generator Chicagoland residents are very familiar with power outages, commonly known as "blackouts". Three major power failures occurred within weeks of one another in the early 90's and left thousands of homes and businesses without power for several days. Loss of power brings economic, social, physical, medical and psychological consequences. To mitigate these risks, homeowners should consider installing generators, specifically standby generators, to offer the best defense against power loss. Edison International lists eight common causes of power outages, seven frequently experienced in the city and its suburbs: storms (rain, wind and ice), trees (accidents by tree trimmers or damage from limbs in high winds), vehicle collisions with utility poles, animals (short circuiting equipment), lightening, excavation (disturbing underground cables) and high power demand during extreme weather (overburdening and damaging electrical equipment). Bottom line - homeowners need to be prepared. Standby or "whole-house" generators, run on natural gas, liquid propane or diesel fuel, delivering electrical power automatically when an outage occurs. These generators sit outside the house like air conditioning units and can provide back-up power to an entire home or to essential appliances. They offer continued protection whether the residents are at home or away. What are five important reasons everyone in the greater Chicago area should own a standby generator? Communication - The U. S. Census Bureau reported approximately eight million or 5.2% of American workers in 2017 worked remotely. Kate Lister at Global Workplace Analytics estimates "we will see 25- 30% of the workforce working at home one or more days a week within the next two years." And that was before current stay at home orders and social distancing led to a dramatic increase of people working from home. Even when things return to “normal,” lessons learned will undoubtedly lead to more people working remotely. Additionally, with the rise in online education, the number of households who depend upon Internet connections also increases. During a power outage, home routers go down. Cell phones can serve as "hot spots" until the batteries lose their charge, but a mobile hot spot does not offer the bandwidth of a router system. As more people opt for cell phones over landlines, loss of power endangers phone communications as well. The inability for employees to work remotely and communicate via mobile phones for extended periods of time can adversely affect a business. Security - According to iProperty Management, 2019 global revenues for the home security market exceeded $27 billion. With an estimated annual growth rate of 10.4%, these revenues could reach $75 billion by 2023. Clearly, security is a concern for homeowners. Systems using traditional phone lines will continue to operate during a power outage, but problems occur with security systems relying on

2. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or the Internet in general. Battery back-up systems provide some relief, operating up to 24 hours during an outage, but some power failures take longer than a day to resolve. Many homes also rely on security lighting powered by the utility feed; a power failure leaves these homes literally in the dark and vulnerable to burglary. Only rechargeable, long-lasting, LED blackout lights will remain functional during a blackout. The power provided by a standby generator will ensure systems and lighting continue to offer security during an outage. Protection - Security systems address the safety of individuals, but electricity also powers devices that protect the home. Extreme weather prompting power outages often brings heavy rains. A working sump pump is critically needed to prevent flooding and to protect a house from costly water damage, and these pumps are powered by electricity. Furnaces, too, rely on electrical power. Without the warmth of the heating system during extremely cold weather, water pipes could freeze and burst. Tankless gas hot water heaters also rely on electricity to work. Appliances, too, are not immune from risk. If an appliance is "on" when the power goes out, the appliance will stop working. If it is not switched off, the resulting power surge that occurs when the electricity returns can damage or ruin the appliance. Physical Health - A standby generator also serves to protect the health of the residents. During electrical outages, refrigerators and freezers lose the power they need to hold food at safe temperatures. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a food safety chart on its website, https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/food-safety-during-power-outage. Basically, the USDA says, "Your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. Keep the door closed as much as possible. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers after 4 hours without power." Full freezers keep food safe for approximately 48 hours; while half full, unopened freezers hold food for 24 hours. Not only a hit to the budget, spoiled food resulting from a power failure presents a significant health hazard. There are other health risks prompted by the loss of power. Critical medications such as unopened bottles of insulin and certain antibiotics require refrigeration. Battery-powered wheelchairs and chairlifts may lose power in extended outages. Indoor temperature extremes and failure of water- pumping equipment threaten more than discomfort during power failures; they contribute to unhealthy conditions and lack of clean drinking water. Elderly individuals, living independently in their own homes, may then need assistance. A standby generator maintaining power to the house is important to the health of vulnerable residents. MentalHealth - Extended periods of power loss affect not only physical, but also mental health. Time Magazine, in its article, "How Power Outages Can Affect Mental Health," by Alexandra Sifferlin and Karl Vick, Oct. 4, 2017, cited Dr. Shao Lin's, (professor at the University of Albany), study of the impact of Hurricane Sandy on mental health. She noted a substantial impact by pointing out increases in emergency room visits for drug abuse, mood disorders, psychosis, and suicide during prolonged power outages.

3. Hyun Kim, Dr. Lin's research assistant, explained, "A power outage cuts out communication and can cause social isolation, especially for groups like the elderly, isolation can cause mental stress." Their study emphasizes the need to maintain the flow of electricity to keep lines of communication open and to power radios and televisions that connect individuals with the outside world. The loss of power in extended blackouts threatens individuals' well-being and property in many ways. Chicago and the surrounding area are susceptible to common causes of power outages. These periods of electrical failure can extend beyond the capacity for some battery backup systems, and occur with little or no warning. Five areas of concern include communication, security, protection, physical health and mental well-being, and become reasons for Chicagoland residents to consider installing standby generators in their homes. These systems automatically provide continuous power when utility failures occur, offering protection to homeowners and their property.