Can You Live 100% Off the Grid in a City or Suburb?
Photo: Simone Hogan (Shutterstock) Modern city life is kind of amazing—we can have burritos biked to our door and (usually) have reliable internet. But cities are built on a delicate…
This Is the Difference Between a Generator and a Backup Battery for Your Home
Photo: Radovan1 (Shutterstock) Power outages can range from being annoying to downright catastrophic, depending on the circumstances. With the North American Electric Reliability Corporation estimating that a significant portion of…
The Difference Between Blackouts and Brownouts
Photo: FranciscoDania (Shutterstock) With temperatures and humidity levels soaring across the country, many people are cranking up their air conditioning. And while that’s completely understandable, doing so could result in…
What You Really Need to Survive a Blackout
Photo: Antonio Guillem (Shutterstock) When you’re a kid, blackouts are exciting—they instantly transform your boring old house into a dark world of infinite adventure. When you’re an adult, blackouts are…
Why Your Boring Utility Bill Is Much More Important Than You Think
An electrical specialist repairs a transformer in Jackson, MS.Photo: Rogelio V. Solis (AP) Most of us don’t give much of a thought about how the sausage of our electric bill…