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 Government Push: New standards will require solar panels to be automatically fitted in most newly built homes in England. youth4planet
• [New] The READI-Home Innovation Challenge presents a valuable opportunity for device developers to engage early with FDA and shape regulatory strategy for home-use technologies aimed at reducing readmissions. FDA Law Blog
• [New] Low-income households will be worst-hit after crude oil prices surged to more than $114 a barrel earlier in 2026, alongside increased shipping costs, insurance fees and delivery delays. UN News
• [New] The New York City Housing and Preservation Development Department requires Enterprise Green Communities or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification for all new construction and substantial rehabilitation projects that it finances. ESG Dive
• [New] Recent estimates suggest a shortfall of more than 200,000 homes by 2030. The Times
• [New] Median house prices will increase in most capital cities, putting further pressure on borrowers. SBS News
• [New] House prices in two cities will lift by more than $50,000 by the end of 2026 despite rate hikes putting a handbrake on borrowing power. Sky News Australia
• [New] By the end of 2026, home-based robots capable of completing long-horizon, complex tasks in unseen environments will be technologically viable. The Daily Note
• [New] Projected U.S. spending on home improvements and repairs is expected to reach $522 billion by the end of 2026. Palacios Construction
• [New] In 2021, the Oregon Legislature set a goal of powering 1 million homes with offshore wind by 2030, and former President Joe Biden set the goal of building up 15 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity along the coasts of the U.S. by 2035, with a total of 30 gigawatts deployed by 2030. Opb
• [New] Transit expansions are a vital part of Canada's housing plan, creating opportunities for pre-construction buyers in the GTA. PreconFactory
• [New] Home equity products are poised to be the biggest growth opportunity for the lending industry in 2026. Zenith Business Directory
• [New] U.S. house prices are expected to see 0% growth nationally in 2026. Zenith Business Directory
• [New] Across the U.S., home price growth is expected to slow but remain positive overall. Howard Hanna Blog
• [New] Sizewell C is projected to supply six million homes with nuclear energy, while the Teesside-based Lighthouse Green Fuels plant would become Europe's largest SAF facility. no2nuclearpower
• [New] If rates stabilize and inventory continues to edge upward, 2026 could mark the beginning of a more balanced housing landscape - and for the millions of sidelined buyers who have been patiently waiting, that alone may be enough to draw them back in. Fortune
• [New] Cement and concrete are vital to the built environment, from housing and commercial buildings to data centers and transportation networks, and global demand for cement is expected to increase to 6.2 billion tons by 2050. Center for Green Market Activation
• [New] Oregon plans to launch both HOMES and HEAR programs in Spring 2026, with $113 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. EnviroSmart Solution
• [New] Picking smart home devices in 2026 could be very confusing. Digital Orbitals
• [New] AI-driven economic changes could erode the tax base that supports programmes such as Social Security, Medicaid, SNAP and housing assistance, as corporate profits and capital gains increase while reliance on labour income declines. Storyboard18
• [New] OpenAI warns that as AI automates more work, the wage and payroll tax revenue that funds Social Security, Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance could collapse. Fortune

Last updated: 18 April 2026