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Accurate-Historian-7 t1_j4cx6pm wrote

Reply to comment by Beezlegrunk in It was a good run, years worth of solar credits eaten in about 1.5 months. by Ragnaroknight

The folks of Texas haven’t learned what a generator is and that they should invest in one before the inevitable ice storm comes.

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Beezlegrunk t1_j4cyboh wrote

What does a worthwhile generator cost?

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Accurate-Historian-7 t1_j4d1hxz wrote

1000$ you could find a nice Honda. That would easily be enough to keep the refrigerator going, a space heater, and maybe even the computer router or TV. That would at least provide minimal heat, make sure your food doesn’t spoil, and provide some entertainment.

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Beezlegrunk t1_j4d7yfb wrote

So you expect people who can’t afford to pay a monthly utility bill to be able to pony up $1,000 for a generator (not counting the gas to run it)? That seems an unlikely “solution” …

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princessvibes t1_j4e26nw wrote

Not sure why you’re getting downvoted, people also forget that those who were largely unequipped for this winter storm live in APARTMENTS. Texas has multiple sizable cities where a majority are living in condos and apartments. We can’t just get a generator, and even if we had a smaller generator it would only really work for charging phones and small household appliances. Larger appliances like refrigerators, ovens, and hot water, and heat wouldn’t be an option.

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degggendorf t1_j4mzgwa wrote

> Not sure why you’re getting downvoted

I think it's because they're misunderstanding the point /u/Accurate-Historian-7 is making. Historian is saying that having a backup generator will protect you when the power goes out. Beezle is arguing against a generator as a solution to energy costs going up, which no one ever claimed them to be.

You have a good point as well - if you're in an apartment, you might not have a place to hook up and run your backup generator if the power goes out. Another way people in apartments are worse off. At least it won't be you paying for the work when a pipe bursts in your landlord's building, but that will be small consolation when you get kicked out for the construction and have to figure out somewhere else to live. That's a shitty situation all around, caused by the landlord's failure to plan ahead.

FWIW, if you have gas heat and hot water, they only need a tiny bit of power to run zone valves, circulators, and thermostats, so you could run them from your car or one of those lithium ion "generators" like the brand Jackery popularized.

If you have a balcony or somewhere protected outside, a cheap generator like this one would be enough to keep your fridge cold and your house warm, assuming you have the access and know-how to change around wiring.

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Accurate-Historian-7 t1_j4n2sv0 wrote

That’s for bringing some sense to this! I didn’t even want to try and clear this up Ahaha.

Battery generators are a great idea for apartments and condos. No noise and can be recharged by a solar panel. Goal zero, Eco Flow, Jackery, ect.

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Beezlegrunk t1_j4mwfz4 wrote

Excellent points. His comment about generators also puts the burden on individual people to remedy their own energy-supply / cost crises, instead of addressing the structural causes of those crises. Rhode Island, Texas, and the U.S. as a whole could have already done more and should be doing more now to diversify their energy sources, by generating more within each state from renewable sources that are much less vulnerable to supply disruptions / cost rises. Instead, people are forced to rely on fossil fuels from external sources and are expected to buy generators to keep their lights on and food from spoiling when those volatile energy supplies are disrupted and costs soar ...

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degggendorf t1_j4mxdqg wrote

> His comment about generators also puts the burden on individual people to remedy their own energy-supply / cost crises

That's not the point at all, they are recommending a generator as a backup power supply for when the grid goes down, which would be a money saver. Whether it's fossil fuel or nuclear or wind, when a tree falls on the line, your power is going out.

Even a nice $1k generator is a hell of a lot cheaper than water remediation and repiping a house.

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Accurate-Historian-7 t1_j4d9i0r wrote

Lot better than having your pipes freeze or loosing a freezer full of food. Also many other options can be had for half that. Just won’t last as long.

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