Cleary advises homeowners to think about generator capacity in two ways: essential coverage and whole-home coverage. Essential coverage powers only key circuits, such as heating, lighting, and ...

Start by making a list of the devices and appliances you need to power and add up the number of watts it takes to run them. Consider the fuel options to generate backup power, whether it's gas or ...

Mike De Socio is a CNET contributor who writes about energy, personal finance, electric vehicles and climate change. He's also the author of the nonfiction book, "Morally Straight: How the Fight for ...