Are you ready in case of a power outage from extreme weather? Losing power isn't just inconvenient — it can result in unexpected costs and even pose a risk to your family. Considering the increasing number of weather-related power outages and a vulnerable California power grid, keeping your household up and running in times of crisis is essential.

While you can't plan for a power outage, you can prepare for this eventuality with a sustainable portable backup station. EcoFlow — a leader in portable, backup, clean energy and solar solutions — knows how important it is to keep your family comfortable and safe during extended power outages. That's why the company provides the following top five reasons you should consider sustainable power backup for your home.

1. Keep appliances running

During a short- and long-term power outage, it's important to keep large appliances like refrigerators running. A refrigerator can keep food cool for about four hours without power. Once the food spoils, it can cost around $200 to replace the entire contents of a typical refrigerator. A deep freezer can keep food frozen for about 48 hours, and that food thawing and spoiling can cost hundreds more.

Even if you manage to keep food cool, your kitchen may not be able to function without power. In order to keep your family fed, you may have to eat out for every meal, which can quickly add up.

2. Power life-sustaining medical devices

For people who use home medical equipment like CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, infusion pumps and electric wheelchairs, a power outage can become a life-threatening emergency. Keep your family safe from serious health risks by having backup power that can keep life-sustaining medical equipment going until power is restored.

3. Maintain a comfortable and safe indoor temperature

Whether it's during a blazing hot summer or bone-chilling winter, backup power is essential to protect your family from extreme heat or cold during an outage. This is especially important if you live with young children and older adults who are more vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. If you can't keep your air conditioning or heater going, you may have to relocate to a hotel until the power is back on, which can cost hundreds of dollars a night.

4. Gain grid independence

Weather isn't the only cause of power outages. Between aging infrastructure, rising demand and other issues, the California electrical grid is struggling to stay on pace. However, with home backup power, you can become less reliant on the national grid and keep your home powered even when the rest of your neighborhood has gone dark. Even if it takes days for the grid to come back on, you can rest easy knowing your home can operate independently.

5. Reduce your energy costs

Outside of emergencies, home backup power can save you money on your electric bill every month. In 2023, Americans spent an average of $136.84 a month on electricity, according to the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (EIA). A recent Stanford Energy study found that about 60% of families could reduce their electricity costs by 15% on average by installing a solar-battery system.

Affordable, reliable power you can count on

If you're considering backup power solutions, you might be worried about the cost. Whole-home power solutions can indeed be expensive, but you can still keep your home essentials powered at an affordable price with a portable clean-energy backup power station.

"EcoFlow has grown with me through the seasons," said Pete Peng, EcoFlow user. "From needing a power station ... to facing the Los Angeles wildfires, when nobody knew when power would return to my pitch-black neighborhood, my EcoFlow products kept me going. Bringing convenience to camping, protecting food in fridges, and saving me on important work calls when the WiFi router died, EcoFlow powered them all. Now, with a whole home system, I'm slashing my electric bill. Safe to say, EcoFlow is life."

Products like EcoFlow's solar backup power stations provide reliable electricity that you can use during grid outages or mandatory utility shut-offs. Battery storage is a clean and quiet alternative to gas or diesel generators that you can rely on in times of natural disasters and other emergencies. To learn more about these clean-energy solutions, visit US.EcoFlow.com.