South Floridians who experienced hurricane Irma probably know at least one person whose generator failed to power their home when the storm knocked out the grid. Imagine days without light and adequate means of cooling. Homes lacking the power to cook or to keep groceries at the right temperature. And now hurricane season is upon us again. Are you prepared?
The modern home should never lose power or the internet. Plentiful technologies exist to ensure a home functions as it should, even when a hurricane knocks out the grid. And there are products available for every power requirement, from the quaint beachside cottage to the grand island villa.
Preventing Disaster
Lone generator backup systems can be unreliable due to multiple factors. If your generator is not maintained properly, monitored remotely, or tested regularly, it could fail when it is needed most. Sensors and circuits require regular checkups. Fuel supply to the generator might also be inadequate. And even if all of the boxes are checked, there is still a small chance the generator will refuse to do its job.
Seconds to minutes can pass between grid failure and the time it takes for the generator to take-over. These are precious moments when security can be breached. And a reboot of the home automation system can take a lot longer.
Ever Ready
The best way to ensure all automated technologies communicate in-sync 24/7, is to incorporate the smart energy triad. A micro-grid consisting of solar, battery, and generator technology provides independence from city power as well as feel-good eco-savvy points. Solar energy is abundant before and after hurricanes. So sun-drenched panels charge your batteries. And then the batteries maintain power to the home in the event of a power outage until the generator takes over. So you have 100% power at all times.
Power Priorities
When thinking about the most important things in your home requiring electricity, you consider the security, modem, router, wifi, lighting, climate control, and entry points. As an integral part of your micro-grid, batteries keep all the really necessary technologies running until the generator takes over. Once the generator is supporting the home, it charges the batteries. And batteries can power the smart home products that require less energy. So your home automation system weathers the storm seamlessly.
Uninterrupted Connectivity
Remote monitoring automated systems, like Savant, allow you to check on your home from anywhere in the world. And the peace of mind that comes with being able to see your home through security cameras and monitor performance from afar is of utmost importance. So naturally, constant power for your home should be a priority.
Of course, hurricane preparedness includes stocking things like filtered water, non-perishable food, and maybe even a nice bottle of wine. But constant power and staying connected are key. Be prepared. And if something should go awry, your team of integrators is just a phone call away.
Responsive Living, the term coined by Acoustic Architects founders, Aaron Flint and Spencer Hauldren, is the concept of seamlessly enhancing the client’s unique lifestyle using smart home technology. Responsive Living allows you to interact with your space via touch input, voice command, and predictive automation, placing you in full control of your home.
If you would like to learn more about hurricane proofing your smart home, feel free to connect with us. We will be happy to schedule a demo with you.
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