Standby Power
Generators, run on protected fuel supplies, provide homeowners a safe environment after a storm.

by Billy Treger

Half of residents in hurricane-prone states expect to lose power for 24 hours or more during each hurricane season. These outages can damage the contents of homes, spoil food and encourage unhealthy mold growth. For these and many other reasons, homeowners are buying standby generators in record numbers. These generators can be connected directly to a home’s existing gas lines or fueled by an underground propane tank, which can serve as a trusted and reliable part of a hurricane-resistant home.

Yet, a national survey finds homeowner knowledge of standby generators remains low.

PORTABLE VS. STANDBY
A survey released by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) found that almost half (48 percent) of adults in hurricane-prone states (representing nine million households) expect to lose their electricity for 24 hours or more during hurricane season. And at least one in three adults (32 percent) nationally say a lengthy loss of power would present at least some impact on their personal financial situations.

While nearly half of adults in hurricane states expect to lose power, just one in four surveyed (26 percent)—and just 20 percent nationally—say they own a generator that can be used as a backup power supply. Of the national respondents who say they own a generator, 66 percent report owning a portable generator versus 25 percent who say they own a standby generator. Portable generators supply electricity to selected appliances through extension cords, while standby generators are permanently installed.

New standby generators can provide cost-effective and care-free protection from power loss, yet homeowner understanding of the benefits they deliver remains low, with 53 percent of those surveyed saying they knew a little or nothing at all about them. Standby generators are designed to automatically turn on in the case of a power outage to supply electricity to selected circuits in a home, ensuring that the impact of any power loss is minimized.

“It appears that builders have an opportunity to make homeowners aware of the benefits of owning a standby generator,” said Brian Feehan, PERC’s managing director of engine fuel programs. “In addition, builders can also educate homeowners about how underground propane tanks can serve as a reliable fuel source in severe storm environments. This also provides builders with an opportunity to look at how the same underground tank can add value around the home, such as by expanding outdoor rooms.”

PREPAREDNESS OPTIONS
A survey conducted earlier this year by the propane industry found that outdoor living rooms and standby power generators were the top drivers for builder interest in installing underground propane tanks. Underground tanks are becoming popular because once the tanks are buried, the only evidence of the tank is a small dome with filling connections that protrude just inches above the ground where the supplier fills the tank.

Prices for standby generators start at $1,500 plus installation, which runs about $1,000 additional. Still, while some portable generators can cost less than $1,000, they provide significantly less power and convenience.
An average home’s essential appliances will operate on a standby generator with 7,000 to 13,000 watts of power. High wattage “comfort” appliances that require dedicated circuits, such as central air conditioners, pool heaters and dryers require a surge of electricity when they first start up, and that can influence the size of the generator a homeowner may need. As an example, a 7,000 watt standby generator will power eight circuits and a window air conditioning unit, whereas a 13,000 watt unit will operate up to 12 circuits and a four-ton central air conditioning system.

Sixty-six percent of those surveyed in the standby generator survey said their generators run on either unleaded gasoline or diesel fuel. In a severe storm situation, access to gasoline and diesel fuel will be limited. Standby generators run on either propane or natural gas and can be hooked directly to a homeowner’s existing gas lines, which means that in the event of a severe storm, homeowners have access to a reliable source of fuel to power the generator. In fact, propane marketers are able to provide homeowners with an underground tank that is protected from the elements so that a constant source of fuel is available. On average, a 250-gallon propane tank fueling a seven-kilowatt standby generator would provide enough electricity to power a home for five days, while a 500-gallon underground tank would provide 11 days’ power.

The survey also explored issues individuals would be concerned about in the event of a power loss that lasted more than 24 hours. Food spoilage topped the list of concerns in the event of a power loss (69 percent), followed by loss of air conditioning (50 percent) and inability to stay informed (50 percent). Other concerns include computer or phone loss (41 percent), followed by mold growth (39 percent), inability to use medical devices installed in the home (29 percent), and loss of a security system (24 percent).

The survey, which asked American adults a variety of questions on their preparedness for an upcoming storm season as well as their knowledge of the options available to power their home in the event of an extended outage, was conducted for PERC using Opinion Research Corporation’s CARAVAN National Omnibus. Telephone interviews were conducted from June 15 to 18, 2006, among 1,008 adults 18 years of age and older, including 178 adults who live in hurricane-prone states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina. The margin of error is ±3.1 percent.

For additional information about standby generators, visit www.usepropane.com.

The Propane Education & Research Council, Washington, DC, promotes the safe, efficient use of odorized propane gas as a preferred energy source through investments in research, safety and consumer initiatives. The Council was authorized by the U.S. Congress with the passage of the Propane Education and Research Act (PERA), October 1996. Visit www.propanecouncil.org.