A UPS seems rather inefficient- converting AC to DC then back to AC then DC?

My solution would be to get a couple of marine (or car) batteries and put them on a charger every couple of months (I have an X10 so I could program it to go on one night every two months if that's enough) and then simply jumper those batteries if the power goes out. It's not automatic but they'll hold a charge a lot longer than a UPS will.

Although I'd like to tell Verizon that they can have my century-tested copper wiring when they pry it from my cold, dead hands.