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] Smart Home Devices: Smart home adoption continues to accelerate, with global shipments of smart speakers, security cameras, and connected appliances expected to reach 1.1 billion units in 2025. BeeCost
• [New] Tax credits for home efficiency improvements such as heat pumps, efficient windows and energy audits will end at the end of 2025. The Conversation
• [New] The House of Commons Library has published an Economic Update, suggesting that after strong GDP growth in Q1 2025, the UK economy is expected to grow more slowly over the remainder of the year. CIN
• [New] The U.S. House of Representatives passed the budget reconciliation bill, proposing to dismantle all of the tax credits that are creating momentum and opportunity for the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) industry. Electrification Coalition
• [New] Multimillion-dollar home sales in NJ will be subject to a tax under the New Jersey mansion tax as part of a new bill that was passed in tandem with the state's $58.78 billion fiscal year 2026 budget. Chrisman Commentary
• [New] Private markets are attracting unprecedented attention from institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, and family offices worldwide, with Preqin projecting their value will rise from USD18 trillion (trn) in 2024 to over USD29trn by 2029. A&O Shearman
• [New] The Gitlaxt'aamiks Village Government in British Columbia will receive $2.8 million to purchase and install electric heat pumps in community homes. CNW Group
• [New] The escalating cost of living in Lagos has driven many residents to seek more affordable housing in adjacent satellite communities while continuing to leverage economic opportunities in Lagos itself. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Ferrovial to Build Three Photovoltaic Plants in Murcia, Spain, with Capacity to Supply 30,500 Homes: Ferrovial will build three new photovoltaic plants for TotalEnergies and Soltec in Spain's Murcia region. cCarbon
• [New] By making travel easier and more affordable, Kazakhstan is helping to create new opportunities for businesses, students, and families. VisaVerge
• [New] The little country building the world's biggest mega-port - and it's going to cost £10bn - A tiny Asian country will soon be home to the largest port in the world as a £10 billion project gets underway. Edwards Global
• [New] Drivers providing essential goods, services and transport in central London could see additional costs of up to £3,000 per year for regular drivers, which will be shouldered by London households and businesses. EV Fleet World
• [New] Organizers want transformative solutions that optimize production, expand access to essential goods, and unlock Africa's export potential - especially in housing, food, and healthcare. iAfrica.com
• [New] Digital inequality contributes to the destabilization of developed countries - about 7% of US citizens have never used the Internet; about 60% of US residents express fears about the lack of access to digital technologies for their children in education. b
• [New] Utility street works cost the UK economy at least £4 B per year and can cause disruption to businesses and residents. SlideShare
• [New] From UN Habitat 2016, around 881 million people nowadays live in informal settlements in third world countries and additional 1.6 billion people will meet housing shortages by the year of 2025. Scribd
• [New] Tax credits passed under the Inflation Reduction Act during former president Joe Biden's term for individual home solar systems, heat pumps and battery storage will end in 2025 under the Republican bill. Global News
• [New] On Thursday, the US House of Representatives passed the 'big beautiful' bill that could increase national debt by $3.3 million, makes tax cuts for Trump's first presidency permanent, and cut Medicaid. FinExtra
• [New] Onshore wind is one of the easiest and cheapest technologies to build and will supply British homes and businesses with clean, secure homegrown power that ends a reliance on unstable global gas markets - which is all part of Westminster's mission to get bills down for good. The Edinburgh Reporter
• [New] Another area of the U.S. has a different vision for the ride experience: Florida will soon be home to what's called the first fully autonomous public transit system in America. Empower
• [New] An EV advocacy group urges the House to revise a bill that would end the EV tax credit, warning it would cede control of the transportation future to China. Digital Habitats
• [New] The Celtic Sea has the opportunity to play an integral role in supporting the UK's clean energy transition by hosting three new floating offshore wind farms, capable of generating enough renewable energy to power more than four million homes. Business News Wales
• [New] When combined with Trump's plans to repeal emissions limits for power plants, vehicles and other sources, the House and the Senate bills would spike U.S. greenhouse gases 25.7 and 25.2% in 2035, respectively, compared with Biden-era policies. Scientific American

Last updated: 12 July 2025