All-electric home vulnerably

Investment Analysis Clubs Macro Economic Trends and Risks
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Researchers in New Jersey examined the vulnerability to heat waves and winter storms of all-electric homes versus mixed-energy homes.

All-electric did slightly better during heat waves but was at much higher risk during winter storms.

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Quantifying household vulnerability to power outages: Assessing risks of rapid electrification in smart cities
Majoricz et al.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27723577241306340
However, our vulnerability assessment underscores critical trade-offs: while electrification reduces emissions, it also heightens vulnerability to extreme weather. Temporal variations in vulnerability highlight the need for seasonally aware resilience strategies. Solar-equipped homes, beneficial during summer heat waves, provide limited protection during winter storms, pointing to the strategic deployment of complementary resources such as backup power systems.

DB2

2 Likes
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Diversification is a risk reduction strategy. Net zero is lunacy.

The Captain

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That “winter storm” chart is bogus. I have a gas furnace, but without electricity to run the thermostat, ignition, and blower, the gas furnace is useless.

Steve

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I live in the Redwoods. Despite PG&E trimming trees every summer, every winter limb falls from the tall trees cut off our power, sometimes for days. Woodstove for heat and propane hot water and cooking keep us cozy. I run lights off a 100ah LiFePo4 battery and 400w inverter. If the outage is long. I run an extension cord off a little Honda generator for the fridge. I’d like to have a big battery backup and a transfer switch but the initial outlay makes me balk.

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On the other hand, I have a gas stove and gas fire place so that when power went out during an ice storm, I generated enough heat from the fire place to warm much of the house and was able to heat up food stovetop. Maybe this situation plays into the stats?

Pete

1 Like
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Not many people have a fireplace. My aunt had a wood stove in her house at the lake, which saw considerable use, but that was the exception.

Some people try to heat their homes with a gas kitchen range, and kill themselves.

Steve

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Most people in the west have a fireplace. Very few homes are without them.

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No apartment or condo I have ever lived in had a fireplace.

Steve

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Solara 100,

There have been others that acquired old forklift batteries very inexpensively. That could be a cheap way to add storage

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Many, if not most, of the houses built in my area in the last few decades have some sort of fireplace - more often gas log than wood log.

Pete

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Lead acid batteries are very heavy and require watering. Also, once discharged below 50% of ampacity, they’re junk and they have a high rate of selfbdischarge just sitting.LiFePo4 lithium batteries are light, can be dicharged to nearly 0, will take high rates of charge for quicker charging, like to sit partially charged and don’t have the thermal runaway problems of the older Lithium Ion batteries. I’m sure more battery improvements are on the way. Price for LiFePo4 has dropped considerably. Lead Acid is becoming less desirable.

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