While problems with the power grid aren’t new, electric whole-home backup systems are. Having emergency power on hand is a great idea, but power banks are also expensive, hard to move, and get in the way. When you need them, you haul them out to the most advantageous spot in your home. Of course, the hefty machines weigh around 80 pounds and take up a lot of space. If you’ve ever used a backup generator, you’ll know it also means extension cords snaking all over your house. One solution has been to tie these backup generators directly into your circuit breaker box, so that if the power goes off, the whole house automatically flips over to your backup generator. Unfortunately, because you can’t plug them directly into your breaker box, you also need a subpanel, and they're not cheap. Now there’s a new backup power brand that's less expensive, easier to use, and is renter-friendly. Biolite removes the middle man entirely. Although the generator carries the same power output as traditional whole-home generators, they’re flattened — under 3 inches thick — and lighter. Instead of being stored away in a closet, you mount them where you’ll use them, and the installation is DIY. As soon as there’s a power interruption, Biolite acts like a UPS (uninterruptible power supply), shifting power so quickly that most devices don’t even go offline or lose power. The Biolite is perfect for renters because there’s no permanent installation. Biolite batteries will be released this summer. The core battery alone will run $2,100 and the core battery plus an extra Biolite will run $3,000. Because they count as an “installed solution,” they qualify for a 30% tax credit.
