When Hurricane Beryl knocked out power near Houston this summer, one family stayed comfortable thanks to their home battery system and even helped friends escape the heat.
The Tesla Powerwall battery system, which stores energy from rooftop solar panels, kept air conditioning running for over 34 hours during the outage. The homeowner used three Powerwall units paired with solar panels to power multiple AC units and essential appliances, maintaining a comfortable 76-degree Fahrenheit indoor temperature throughout the blackout, they told the Reddit r/Powerwall community.
"My system has performed perfectly for the 40+ hours we've been out," commented a Houston resident whose home became a refuge for neighbors. Initially doubtful about the investment, their spouse admitted: "I wish we had gotten the solar panels earlier." Friends spent nights in their air-conditioned home waiting for grid power to return.
🗣️ Do you have a backup power system at your home?
🔘 Not at all 🙅
🔘 I have a generator 🏡
🔘 I have a portable battery 🔋
🔘 I use something else 🏠
🗳️ Click your choice to see results and speak your mind
Home batteries paired with solar panels offer clear advantages over traditional gas generators.
Unlike gas backup systems that create toxic fumes, solar batteries provide clean backup power without harmful pollution. The systems work silently and require no refueling. Best of all, they save money year-round by cutting electric bills and qualifying for significant tax breaks.
The federal government offers a 30% tax credit on solar and battery installations through 2032. Some homeowners report saving up to $1,500 yearly on energy costs after going solar. For free solar cost estimates customized to your home, check out EnergySage's online tools to compare quotes from certified installers.
Tesla reports 600,000 Powerwalls installed worldwide, with numbers growing as more homeowners seek protection from increasing blackouts. Some utility companies even pay battery owners for sharing stored energy during grid emergencies through "virtual power plant" programs.
"You get benefit all the time," said Z. Smith, sustainability director at architecture firm EskewDumezRipple.
"In most places in the country it pays back pretty quickly," added Mark Dyson of energy think tank RMI.
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