Publish Date: March 23rd, 2026
Due to climate change and increased demand on the electrical grid, outages are becoming more frequent. Coloradans are now looking for ways to protect their homes from grid instability. Home energy backup is becoming an important part of building a more resilient home. Two common options to power your home during an outage are battery backup or generator backup.
At Namaste Solar, we often recommend solutions that support energy independence while reducing environmental impact. For that reason, we most often recommend home battery backup over generator backup. However, there are pros and cons to both options. In the spirit of straightforward, transparent education (ahem, it’s kind of our thing), let’s take a look at both.
Key Takeaways for Home Battery and Generator Backup
- Home battery backup (or home battery storage) refers to a battery (or batteries) that receives electricity from your solar system and/or the grid and stores it for later use to power your home, most often when the sun isn’t shining or when there’s a grid outage.
- Generator backup refers to fossil fuel powered energy sources that can be used to power your home during an outage, generally available as standby or portable options.
- Homeowners choose batteries because they reduce monthly electric bills, operate quietly and automatically, are a daily asset to your home energy usage, can power your whole home or just essential loads, require minimal maintenance, do not require fossil fuels, provide clean renewable backup power, and can be charged with solar.
- Some folks prefer generator backup because the upfront cost can be lower, they offer a high-power output, and they’re reliable for long outages.
- Namaste Solar offers home battery backup as a standalone service and as an addition to any new or pre-existing solar system.
How Can Home Battery Backup or Generator Backup Create a Resilient Home?
Locally, Coloradans have experienced multiple outages in the last year that caused hundreds of thousands of homes to be without power, some for as long as four days. When high winds and high fire danger are present, Xcel is more frequently implementing planned power shutoffs.
It’s important to note that a utility-fed home with solar will experience an outage like everyone else, being at the mercy of the utility company. This is because solar systems are configured to shut down when the grid is down so the solar system isn’t sending electricity back to the grid and endangering utility workers or creating a fire risk.
The most common way to be protected from grid outages is with some form of backup power. When you get home battery storage or generator backup, you’re ensuring that your home will be powered during the next outage making your home resilient in the face of extreme weather events, rising utility rates, and increased grid demand.
So, how does each option work in the case of a grid outage and what are their benefits?
Home Battery Backup: Pros & Cons
Home battery backup, especially when paired with a solar system, is a great option for those who want energy independence that’s forward-thinking.
During the day, your battery stores excess solar energy. When the grid goes down, the battery automatically switches on (there’s no flicker or clock reset) and powers your home. There’s no noise, no fumes, no refueling, and no hassle. When you pair your home battery backup with solar, you’ll be able to power your home through prolonged outages as your battery is recharged by the sun during the day.
In addition to being powered during outages, battery backup allows you to store and use your solar energy each evening and night. Not only does this feel good because you are maximizing your solar usage, but for customers with time-of-use electric rates, you’re able to use stored energy during peak rate periods for additional solar savings. This means that when you go with home battery backup, you’re investing in an asset that can serve you every day, not just when there happens to be an outage (which is the case with generator backup).
Let’s look at the pros and cons of home battery backup.
Pros
- Can be used as a daily asset to your home energy usage through rate trading and by powering your home at night
- Multiple incentives available (state, local, utility and manufacturer)
- No fuel required
- Low to no operating cost
- Can be charged with solar energy
- Energy savings due to your ability to practice rate trading
- Silent operating volume
- Minimal maintenance, annually and over lifespan
- 10+ year expected lifespan
- Clean environmental impact, no emissions
Cons
- Can be a higher or comparable upfront cost
- Reliability in long outages is limited by battery capacity and solar generation
While solar and battery systems require a higher upfront investment, they generate savings consistently over their lifespan. Many homeowners find that their systems pay for themselves over time through lower electric bills, especially as utility costs continue to rise year over year.
Generator Backup: Pros & Cons
Generator backup has been the traditional choice for decades. All generators use some type of fossil fuels including natural gas, propane, or diesel. As long as you can maintain a supply of fuel, you can keep the generator running, keeping you powered during long extended outages.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of generator backup.
Pros
- Initially lower or comparable upfront cost
- Can run continuously during long outages as long as fuel is available
- 10+ year lifespan
Cons
- Higher ongoing operating cost because of fuel and maintenance
- Loud operating noise (some HOAs and cities don’t allow generators because of this)
- Not environmentally friendly – emits greenhouse gases and pollutants into the atmosphere
- Needs regular service
Some homeowners choose generator backup if they are looking for an initially lower cost option and are confident they’ll have ample fuel on hand to power their generator. Note that some HOAs and municipalities (like Boulder, CO) restrict the use of generator backup due to the noise level and efforts to meet climate goals, making it a non-option for homeowners in some regions.
Should You Choose Home Battery Storage or Generator Backup?
Both solutions have their place, and which is best for you depends on your specific circumstances. Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons of each:
At Namaste Solar, we take an educational approach in both posts like this and in conversations with homeowners. We’ll be happy to talk through your unique goals, values, and circumstances to help you decide whether home battery storage, generator backup, or a hybrid approach (when they’re used separately, not in tandem) makes the most sense for your home.
As grid uncertainty increases, installing backup power can help reduce the impact of future outages and improve home energy resilience. To get started, give us a call at 303-447-0300 or click the button below.
