Juliette Falls, Ocala, Fla.

A full underground propane system, combined with a backup power system, makes this one of the most self-sufficient upscale communities in the country.

As an upscale development with home prices ranging from $600,000 to more than $1.5 million, Juliette Falls has it all — including propane standby generators that protect residents from extended power outages caused by hurricanes or tropical storms.

"While we're not on the coast, we are vulnerable if other areas lose electricity in their major power grids," says Jeff Finke, vice president and CEO of Vikings LLC, the developer of Juliette Falls. "In the event of an emergency, homeowners here will be able to maintain their quality of life."

Each of Juliette Falls' 548 homes comes equipped with a Generac Power Systems standby generator as standard equipment. The generators, which are fueled by two 30,000-gallon underground propane tanks that serve the entire community, are designed to switch on automatically in the event of a power outage. Finke says primary needs — such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning — are powered up first, followed by secondary demands for electricity.

The full underground propane system, combined with the backup power systems, makes Juliette Falls one of the most self-sufficient upscale communities in the country. According to Jeff Miles, operations manager for Central Florida Gas, that's an attractive selling point for prospective buyers.

"This town system has a lot of great features," he says. "Besides having standby generators as standard equipment, homeowners will have the convenience of never having to change out a propane cylinder for their gas grill, and they will have the most energy-efficient way to heat water with tankless water heaters. I guess the most important thing is that peace of mind."