Energy Production

---

Best for: Silent, renewable, long-term power; no ventilation to worry about

Examples: 

• START WITH THIS (phone/USB-c devices)  as low as $20
• (portable) EcoFlow River 3 + 245W Solar Panel  ($250-$400)
• (mid-range)  Jackery Explorer 500  + 100W Solar Panel  ($350-$600)
• (heavy duty) Bluetti AC180  + 350W Solar Input  ($1,000-$1,500)
• (whole house) Dependent on your daily household usage ($15,000-$30,000)

Pros:

• Quiet energy production
• No fuel needed
• Scalable systems from phone charging to whole house energy production
• Battery backup systems can provide power during low/no sunlight (ex. at night)

Cons:

• Reliant on sunlight hours (difficult in winter months or with high tree coverage)
• Larger systems have expensive up-front costs

Best for: Short-term outages, easy storage

Examples:

•  Generac Power Rush – lightweight, good for essentials ($300 - $700)
• Champion 3800-Watt Dual Fuel (Runs on gas or propane). ($400-$700)
• Honda EU2200i (2,200W) – Ultra-quiet, reliable, inverter tech (safe for electronics). ($1,000+)

Pros:

•  Widely available fuel
•  Most systems are lightweight and portable

Cons:

• Even when stored properly, gasoline degrades within 3-6 months (use stabilizers)
• Noisy
• Produces toxic pollutants - DO NOT RUN INDOORS

Best for: Longer runtimes, heavy-duty use

Examples:

•   Westinghouse WGen9500DF (9,500W) – Dual fuel (gas/diesel), heavy-duty. ($800-$1,000)
•    Duromax XP12000EH (12,000W) – Powerful for whole-house backup. ($1,000+)

Pros:

• Diesel lasts longer in storage than gasoline
• More fuel-efficient under heavy load

Cons:

• Loud and bulky
• Higher upfront cost
• Produces toxic pollutants - DO NOT RUN INDOORS

Best for: Cleaner fuel, long shelf life, relatively inexpensive, can be used indoors

Options:

•  (for cooking) Camping stove adapter for the top of a portable propane tank ($10-$20)
•  (for heating) Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Heater ($70-$200)
•  (portable generator) Firman T07571 (9,400W) – Tri-fuel (gas/propane/NG) ($1,000)
•  (house generator)   Generac Guardian ($5,000-$10,000)

Pros:

• Propane never expires (unlike gas/diesel)
• Cleaner burning (less maintenance)
• Suitable for indoor use (but still need ventilation and a carbon monoxide detector)

Cons:

• Lower energy density (needs more fuel for same power)
• Requires large propane tanks for extended use