Global Scans · Homes · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The number of smart homes is expected to grow further and by 2020 it is expected 46.2 million homes in the US and 44.9 million in Europe will be classed as smart homes. By 2022 there could be nearly 500 smart devices that can be connected to a smart home.

• [New] The 10,000 'orphan households' who were previously connected through Starlink face the risk of losing internet access altogether unless they can afford the full price of the service, which poses a significant financial burden. OpenTools
• [New] The shameful budget bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives will cause millions to lose their health care, increase food insecurity for families, and jeopardize Medicare and Social Security in the long term if enacted. AFSCME
• [New] Some people in London are living up to 12 years longer in good health than others, and in less active boroughs residents face not only a higher risk of illness but also reduced mental wellbeing and life satisfaction. London Sport
• [New] In 15 of London's 32 boroughs, adult activity levels fall below the national average, leaving tens of thousands of residents at increased risk of poor health and reduced wellbeing. London Sport
• [New] The House Republicans' proposed tax and spending cuts aim to restrict federal benefits to immigrants but could disproportionately impact millions of legal immigrants and their US citizen children, reducing access to essential supports like food stamps and health care. This Week In Public Health
• [New] The planned reduction of permanent resident admissions from 395,000 in 2025 to 365,000 by 2027, coupled with a national cap limiting temporary residents to 5% of the Canadian population, signals a more selective approach to immigration policy. Sobirovs Law Firm
• [New] Capping Temporary Residents: A proposal to limit temporary residents - including students and foreign workers - to no more than 5% of the Canadian population by 2027 was widely discussed during the 2025 election cycle. Sobirovs Law Firm
• [New] Several statutes require local authorities in the UK to provide support to eligible households that present to them as unintentionally homeless or at risk of becoming unintentionally homeless. Office for National Statistics
• [New] In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, households will be owed a main duty if they are assessed as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless or at risk of becoming unintentionally homeless, and in priority need. Office for National Statistics
• [New] The House will vote on House Bill 116 S, which aims to make energy bills more affordable for Delawareans by giving the Delaware Public Service Commission the ability to approve lower gas and electric rates for low-income households. Blue Delaware
• [New] The Sizewell development along East Anglia's North Sea coastline will power the equivalent of around six million homes with clean homegrown energy for 60 years, and it will be a jobs and growth engine for Britain, supporting 10,000 jobs in the peak construction and creating 1,500 apprenticeships. Kent Online
• [New] The solar power alone will cover 500,000 German homes (equal to every household in Frankfurt) and offer battery storage capacity for an additional 150,000 homes. CNBC
• [New] The SMR project could support up to 3,000 new skilled jobs and power the equivalent of around three million homes, with a first site expected to be allocated later in 2025 by state-owned Great British Energy - Nuclear. Kent Online
• [New] California is requiring residents to store vehicles purchased out of state in the original location - Montana, for example - for up to 12 months before entering California; otherwise, it will be subject to California tax. SlashGear
• [New] NextEra Energy has launched its first utility-scale solar facility in Louisiana, the 100-MW Amite Solar, which will provide energy for thousands of homes and businesses. NenPower
• [New] Other third-party businesses will provide repurposed EV batteries taken out of various models like the Tesla Model S and Jaguar I-Pace to be used as energy storage in homes with solar panels. Auto Trader
• [New] Builders could be required to install solar panels on the vast majority of new homes in England. Kent Online
• [New] Builders will be required to fit solar panels on rooftops and install low-carbon heating for most new build homes in England under proposed changes to be published in 2025. Fenland Citizen
• [New] Moving to all electric homes, with photovoltaics, a better fabric system, better ventilation and smart technologies to optimise the way new homes use energy means that new homes will not only be better for the planet but also more comfortable, healthier to live in and cheaper to run for customers. GOV.UK
• [New] Illustrating the benefits of solar panels, a typical existing UK home could save around £530 a year from installing rooftop solar, based on the current energy price cap. GOV.UK
• CAIRO, (Reuters) - Egypt unveiled plans today to build a desert city that will see about 7% of Egypt's annual Nile River quota rerouted from fertile delta land to pass by upscale glass-fronted housing units and eventually a large agricultural project. Stabroek News

Last updated: 14 June 2025