Old House Journal

Storing Energy at Home

Power outages are a fact of life in the uber-connected 21st century. When Tesla introduced the first Powerwall in 2015, it was a true innovation: Not only could this sleekly minimalist device charge your car but it could also store the excess energy from solar panels for later use—a real advantage during a blackout.

Sure, you can still buy a conventional generator that runs on natural gas or propane.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Old House Journal

Old House Journal2 min read
Old Houses Are A Way Of Life.
OHJ READERS BUY OLD HOUSES ON PURPOSE—for their charm, their evidence of the past, their unique details, their craftsmanship, and their embodied energy. (The greenest house is one that already exists and that doesn’t go to the landfill.) Most of us w
Old House Journal1 min read
Cleaning Methods
STEAM Low pressure and chemical free, steam cleaning removes grime and paint from brick without damage. Don’t use this method on natural stone, as it can cause thermal expansion leading to cracks and breakage. Steam cleaners may be rented from builde
Old House Journal2 min read
Modern Luxury in a 1924 Bath
We must be careful about how much we change because there is a tipping point. Most of us fell in love with an old house—not a new house made of old materials. The 1973 Presidential proclamation establishing what was then Preservation Week (now Month)

Related Books & Audiobooks