By Clement Feng
t is well known that pets pick up our vibes. Even in the dark, they know when there is tension in the air and the mood has switched from fun-filled and relaxed to anxiety-filled and stressed. This is a problem since owners and managers of pet care businesses are committed to making sure their barking and meowing customers have a positive experience and safe stay. Yet, this becomes more difficult when a power outage occurs.
Whether caused by downed lines, rolling outages mandated by the utility company or an unreliable grid that’s overburdened, power outages cause disruption and strain. Nationally, the average length of a power outage is more than five hours. Not having power for several hours can create a series of difficult scenarios. Electronic doors and gates stop working, heating and air conditioning systems shut off, and equipment, video cameras and computers don’t function. For pet business operators, the answer isn’t to find a way to live through it—but rather to find a way to avoid the situation altogether.
Standby generators are usually connected to the building’s natural gas line, as that is typically the most convenient fuel source. However, a standby generator can also be fueled by liquid propane or diesel. Determining the size of generator that’s right for your business depends on the size of your facility, how much equipment you need to keep running, how many areas of the business need lights on, etc. Generators range in size so they can power businesses of all different sizes, and a standby generator can run for days on end, as long as it has a fuel source.
Pet businesses with solar panels typically use power as it is generated because it can lower the monthly electric bill, while demonstrating a commitment to the environment. But, when energy is used as it is made, it can’t help during a power outage. The solution is to add an ESS because it can hold the excess solar power and feed it back into the electrical system during an outage.
If your business has power from a backup generator or energy storage system when others have gone “dark,” it will give you a unique opportunity to attract new customers and reinforce your trusted brand with returning customers.
Since batteries are versatile, they can also be used to store power from the grid when it’s less expensive (typically during the day) and then discharge the energy when utilities charge more (typically during the evening)—a practice that’s called “rate arbitraging.”
If your business has power from a backup generator or energy storage system when others have gone “dark,” it will give you a unique opportunity to attract new customers and reinforce your trusted brand with returning customers. Just as important, backup energy systems will keep refrigerated food and medicines from spoiling. And, during the winter, the heat will stay on, which is critical to avoid the potential of a pipe burst, as that can lead to devastating water damage throughout your business, destroying equipment, furniture, flooring and more.
With tax incentives for energy-efficient systems available to business owners, along with a variety of credit programs issued by local utility companies, the investment in backup power systems by pet business owners is a worthwhile one.
Clement Feng is Vice President of Product Management for Briggs & Stratton Energy Solutions, which provides standby generators and battery backup storage systems that deliver energy resiliency, energy efficiency, and peace of mind to homeowners and businesses, including independent and multi-location pet daycares and boarding facilities. For over two decades, he has helped educate business owners to secure energy independence and improve resilience in managing power outages. Clement holds a BA degree from Stanford University in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.