If you have a home that is anywhere close to a developed area, there is a good chance that you have experienced a power outage recently. We live in a developed nation. That means that we rely on Independent networks and other professionals for just about everything. This includes electricity. Whether you have an electric stove you use to cook breakfast, want to recharge all of your smart devices, or even want to turn the lights on in your home, you probably depend on the power grid. We take our utilities for granted. This includes our gas, our water, and our electricity. On the other hand, anyone who has been paying attention has probably realized that power outages have been on the rise. In particular, there has been a significant spike this year.

Even though power outages have been becoming more common in the United States for more than a decade, people are finally starting to pay attention. According to one report that was published by Pew Charitable Trusts, the United States actually experiences more frequent electric outages per capita than any other developed country in the world. As a result, many people end up going without heat for days on end. Why is this the case? Why do people who live in the United States experience so many power outages? What can you do to address this? There are several important points to keep in mind. Every family has to have a way to keep warm if the power goes out. That is where a wood-burning stove can be helpful.

An Overview of Brownouts and Blackouts

First, it is important to understand there are two separate types of power outages. They are brownouts and blackouts. The difference is between them include:

• A brownout takes place when there is something called a voltage slump. This means that there is a restriction or reduction in the power that is available to your area. Even though you will still have electricity in your home, you will not be able to use it as much. You might also find that some of your devices have trouble operating because of the reduced power.
• A blackout is a complete loss of power in the area. Some blackouts only last for a few minutes. For example, you may notice that the lights flicker before coming back on; however, all of your clocks appear to have been reset. Other blackouts may last for several days. This could cause your home to get very hot or very cold, depending on the temperature outside.

Both types of power outages can be incredibly frustrating. Furthermore, power outages cost somewhere between 18 billion and 33 billion dollars per year in the United States. Power outages can be incredibly harmful to homes; however, they can be harmful to businesses as well. The overall expenses stemming from power outages come from:

• Power outages can lose employees to lose their wages, causing families who have trouble putting food on the table
• Power outages can also lead to spoiling inventory, causing families to lose their perishable goods business is also lose inventory they would like to sell
• In some situations, a power outage could even lead to a missed business opportunity

Furthermore, because we live in a world that is more global than ever before, power outages can lead to significant impacts across the entire world, not just in a local utility area. Because we live on an interconnected power grid, more people feel the impacts of each individual power outage.

The Causes of Power Outages

It is also important to take a closer look at some causes of power outages. After all, they have become more common during the past decade. Why is this the case? In some areas, intentional brownouts are instituted to avoid rolling blackouts. These are intentional, mandated reductions in energy consumption. This could be required to keep the energy on track, prevent it from overheating, or keep from damaging the environment. Of course, some power outages are not planned.

According to a report that was published by the United States Department of Energy, weather-related power outages remain the leading cause of power outages in the country. There are a number of reasons why this could be the case. For example, most people realize that we are experiencing more frequent severe weather events than we were in the past. This includes tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, and other weather events that could take a power grid offline.

On the other hand, this country is also not done a good job maintaining its infrastructure. Therefore, as the country continues to grow, more people are placing demands on the energy grid even as it gets older. The equipment is not as good as it used to be. In some situations, parts of our power grid date back to the earliest developments of electricity. Therefore, the power grid is simply not able to stand up to the demands of so many people. Unfortunately, upgrading the entire power grid could cost trillions of dollars.

Finally, the power grid is also susceptible to something called a cyber attack. Today, the vast majority of people depend on the internet for just about everything on a daily basis. Even though it is great to have the information of the world at our fingertips, it also makes us more vulnerable than ever before. If someone were to execute a cyber attack on the United States power grid, it could take a significant number of people offline in a matter of minutes.

For all of these reasons, power outages are becoming more common. Therefore, it is incumbent on homeowners to do everything they can to create energy independence. If they are able to remove themselves from the power grid, they will no longer have to worry about power outages harming them. For example, one often overlooked impact of power outages is that homes have to go without heat. A lot of people heard about what happened in Texas earlier this year. Some families actually froze because they did not have any source of backup power. That is where a wood-burning stove can come in handy.

Stay Warm: What Can You Do to Create Energy Independence?

Because power outages have been on the rise during the past 10 years, there is every reason to expect power outages are only going to become more common. That is why a lot of families are looking for alternative sources of energy. This includes solar, wind, and water power. On the other hand, there is a much easier, less expensive solution when it comes to staying warm in the event of a power outage. That is where a wood-burning stove can create energy independence.

A wood-burning stove is simple and effective. Furthermore, people do not have to purchase a lot of expensive equipment in order to make it work. In a developed country such as the United States, nobody should have to worry about trying to stay warm in the event of a power outage. Even though it is nice to have central heat when it is available, it is not going to work if there is a power outage.

Furthermore, a lot of families do not have the money to put in a gas line, which would be an alternative source of heat. Instead, a wood-burning stove can be much more effective. If the power goes out, families do not have to worry about how they are going to stay warm. Having a word burning so available can provide everyone with the peace of mind they deserve. That way, everyone in the home will have a reliable source of he even if the power goes out in the future.

Rely on Trained Professionals To Help You

If you would like to make sure your family can stay warm in the event of a power outage, it is important to create energy independence. Installing a wood burning fireplace can do exactly that. If the power goes out, you need to make sure your family can stay warm. You never know what the weather is going to be like outside. If you would like to learn more about installing a wood burning fireplace, rely on trained professionals who can help you. That way, you know your wood burning fireplace will work safely when you need it most. Reach out to professionals today to learn more about energy independence in your home.