Whisper Valley Homes: Resiliency in Any Weather
Following the power outages and damage of historic Winter Storm Uri in 2021, home resiliency skyrocketed to the top of many homebuyers’ wish lists while hunting for new houses in Austin. Besides generators or solar panels, how else could a homeowner best prepare their home in the event of another grid failure?
Cue home batteries, a renewable energy storage option becoming more and more advanced in the modern technology age. Home batteries pair with the solar panels in your home to store excess energy collected during sunlight hours. The homeowner can utilize the power stored in their home battery during nights or in the event of a power outage to operate nearly independently from the grid.
“It’s been really nice when we’ve had even minor outages to not have to worry about things continuing to function,” Whisper Valley homeowner Jennifer Abbamonty told CNBC during a news report.
Situated in East Austin near the SH-130 Tollway, Whisper Valley features zero energy capable homes that are powered by geothermal heat pumps and solar PV arrays. During the 2021 winter storm, the community’s geothermal infrastructure, the GeoGrid™, avoided freeze problems that occurred with other energy sources due to its location underground where it is naturally winterized and protected from harsh elements.
The community also began offering a Power Resiliency Package in 2020, adding home batteries as an upgrade option for managing the solar energy generated by the solar PV in Whisper Valley homes. Buyers can select popular home battery options including the Tesla Powerwall or Sonnen battery.
“We make it as effortless as possible for our homeowners to employ this battery system,” said Michael Thurman, owner of Thurman Homes, a Whisper Valley homebuilder. “Tesla’s Powerwall is just one of the many tools we employ to offer a home with lower bills, peace of mind and reliability. ”
Another enormous benefit of installing a home battery? Tax incentives. Recent amendments to the investment tax credit (ITC) adds battery storage technology, enabling homeowners to write off 30 percent of the value of their renewable energy systems including solar, geothermal and home battery storage.
Advances in energy storage technology make home resiliency possible in severe weather situations. The ability to prepare for and withstand outages make home batteries one of the most critical solutions for the continued progression of green building.