Copper wire ties modern civilization together, but it is fragile thread. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy bathed miles of the electrical conductor in saltwater, severing my Brooklyn neighborhood from the grid. Lower Manhattan-a dense concentration of wealth, power, and wiring-fell into darkness for days. Events like Sandy used to be called 100-year storms. By the end of this century, East Coasters may call them "autumn." To prepare for the next disaster, I built a simple, robust generator able to power essentials like a refrigerator, chargers, and lights indefinitely. Gas and diesel generators are common backup sources of electricity, but disasters can easily disrupt fuel distribution networks, as Sandy did. I decided that the best power source would be me: I'm always around, and my fuel is readily available. I just needed a means to turn calories into kilowatts.
展开▼
