When you think about home maintenance, you usually look for the obvious. A curling roof shingle. A dripping faucet. But the real changes hitting residential properties right now are entirely invisible. State regulators are tracking down soil contaminants, and federal engineers are funding magnetic refrigerators. The latest property hazards and inefficiencies are microscopic.
Rethinking how a house holds its temperature
Most of us accept that sitting near a glass pane in December means feeling a chill. Windows are responsible for about 10% of energy use in buildings because they let the outside climate inside. Now, the Department of Energy is funding research to create next-generation glass that offers the same thermal performance as an insulated wall. Success here means a totally different approach to building and heating homes.
Inside the kitchen, federal engineers are targeting the refrigerator. Through a $2,105,000 grant, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and General Electric built a cooling system that ditches the conventional vapor compression cycle. Instead, this new technology uses a magnetic effect to keep your groceries cold. These magnetocaloric systems are fluorocarbon-free. They remove a potent greenhouse gas from your kitchen and cut your electricity demand.
What's happening in your state
Federal scientists are redesigning our appliances. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Florida are looking at the soil and water beneath our foundations. The state is hunting down PFAS. These human-made chemicals are complex, and manufacturers used them for decades in stain repellents and cookware.
These are stable chemicals that do not naturally degrade. Once they enter the ground, they stay there. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is now enforcing House Bill 1019 to curb the contamination. Fire departments can no longer use PFAS-laden aqueous film-forming foam for nonemergency training. The state is also sampling public well systems and old drycleaning sites to map out exactly where these legacy chemicals are hiding.
The bottom line for you
- If you live in the Sunshine State, keep an eye on your local municipal water reports over the next year. The state's public well sampling program is accelerating. You can learn more about testing your own tap in our environmental hazards guide.
- Upgrading your kitchen soon? Magnetic fridges aren't on showroom floors just yet, but it pays to understand how current models impact your utility bill before you buy. Check out our appliances guide to decode the latest efficiency ratings.
- Don't wait for next-generation glass to fix a drafty living room. Take an afternoon to inspect your weatherstripping and caulking. Our Florida seasonal checklist walks you through exactly what to look for.