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Hurricane-related property damages have surpassed $50 billion over the last five years. With each year’s big hurricane, the construction industry contemplates incorporating “future-proofing” measures into its business practices. How can buildings be designed, engineered, and constructed to survive serious elemental threats, such as hurricanes, for multiple generations? How can modern construction approaches, materials, and systems be applied to make buildings more durable?
A way to answer those questions is to think about design and construction in terms of resilience — the capacity of a building to maintain or regain functionality quickly after an interruption. As an on-site, on-demand energy source, propane can make buildings and communities more resilient. Choosing propane-powered appliances enables construction professionals to improve the value of the homes and buildings that they offer homebuyers, and gives homeowners peace of mind that their house will weather storms to come. Here’s how:
- Whole-house backup generators: Automatically kicking in when needed, a backup generator can be used to power vital systems, such as the sump pump, HVAC system, or refrigerator, protecting homes and businesses from costly repairs, cleanup, or lost inventory.
- Space heating and water heating: When a home’s or building’s critical heating systems are fueled by propane, less backup power is needed for electricity. That means builders can downsize to a less-costly generator or use it to power other vital building systems, and the building’s residents stay warm and have hot water in any scenario.
- Cooking: Propane stoves allow for uninterrupted cooking during blackouts and offer precision temperature control.
- Renewable energy backup: Propane works in tandem with another key resilience strategy — renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and renewable propane. With propane generator sets designed for these hybrid energy applications, a community won’t be reliant on the whims of the weather for its on-site power.
- Fireplaces: Propane-powered fireplaces provide the light and warmth homeowners want, even when the power is out. Advanced pilot ignition systems can light the pilot only when needed when supported by a battery backup system.