Video Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories - Duration: 01:31s - Published
How Turning the Heat Off Could Damage Your Home
How Turning the Heat Off , Could Damage Your Home.
'Newsweek' reports that people in the United States are
facing an energy crisis amid a cost of living crisis that's
leading to difficult decisions like cutting back on heating.
.
According to a report by the Energy Information
Administration, households that heat with oil
or gas will see prices increase by as much as 28%.
.
Last month, CNN reported that Americans
are turning their heating off entirely
in an attempt to save money.
.
'Newsweek' spoke with experts to find out
about the potential damage completely
turning off the heat could do to a house.
Cold temperatures submit the various
finishes and materials in your home
to shrinking and the drying effects of
the lower relative humidity levels usually
not found in a climate-controlled home, John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff
at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.
Cold temperatures submit the various
finishes and materials in your home
to shrinking and the drying effects of
the lower relative humidity levels usually
not found in a climate-controlled home, John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff
at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.
It is most often natural materials
like wood flooring, wallpaper,
and furniture that these effects are
most noticeable at the surface level, .., John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff
at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.
... but pipes freezing and splitting, boilers
and radiators cracking, and refrigerant-
driven appliances breaking down are all
the next round of much deeper trouble
you want to avoid at all costs, John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff
at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.
... but pipes freezing and splitting, boilers
and radiators cracking, and refrigerant-
driven appliances breaking down are all
the next round of much deeper trouble
you want to avoid at all costs, John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff
at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.
According to 'Newsweek,' experts say that
insulating your home, while expensive,
can save money in the long run.
.
Efficiency is best gained by sealing
the building or home.
It doesn't matter
how efficient your heating system
is if all the heat it creates seeps
out the windows and walls, John Cataneo, a member of the teaching staff
at NYC's Mechanics Institute, via 'Newsweek'.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency,
properly insulating your home could save an average
of 15% on heating and cooling costs per year.
3 Unconventional Ways, to Become a Homeowner.
Amid rising housing costs,
'Newsweek' has offered readers some
alternative routes to homeownership.
Over the past few years,
the real estate market has seen
prices rise to record levels. .
Over the past few years,
the real estate market has seen
prices rise to record levels. .
According to Scott Durkin,
CEO of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, , "prices are going up, mortgage rates
are going up, but inventory is down.".
Here's what 'Newsweek' recommends for anyone lacking the income or down payment to find a home. .
Renting to Own, This option gives potential buyers
the ability to rent a property for a set period
of time before having the chance to buy it. .
It can help you get a good credit score,
and it can help a mortgage company give you
a loan for the rest of the cost of the home, Scott Durkin, CEO of Douglas
Elliman Real Estate, via 'Newsweek'.
It can help you get a good credit score,
and it can help a mortgage company give you
a loan for the rest of the cost of the home, Scott Durkin, CEO of Douglas
Elliman Real Estate, via 'Newsweek'.
Seller Financing, For this option, the home's seller
acts as a bank, lending the
purchase money to the buyer.
This can be helpful if the potential
homebuyer is not eligible
for a conventional mortgage.
Co-ownership, Shared ownership is when two or more people purchase
a property together. It usually works well for
unmarried couples, siblings and close friends. .
The process may seem like a lot,
but ultimately homeownership is
the best thing you can do for your
long-term financial success, Nicholas Athanail, real estate broker
in New York City, via 'Newsweek'.
The process may seem like a lot,
but ultimately homeownership is
the best thing you can do for your
long-term financial success, Nicholas Athanail, real estate broker
in New York City, via 'Newsweek'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
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Google Fires Employees , for Protesting Israel Contract.
28 Google workers have been fired for protesting
a $1.2 billion contract that the company has with
the Israeli government and military to provide
cloud and AI services, NBC News reports. .
The firings follow an April 16 sit-in at
Google's offices in California, New York and Seattle in which nine workers were arrested.
The group that coordinated the demonstration
is known as No Tech for Apartheid. .
Google issued a statement about the recent firings.
A small number of employee
protesters entered and disrupted
a few of our locations. , Google spokesperson, via statement.
Physically impeding other employees’
work and preventing them from
accessing our facilities is a clear
violation of our policies, and
completely unacceptable behavior. , Google spokesperson, via statement.
We have so far concluded
individual investigations that
resulted in the termination of
employment for 28 employees,
and will continue to investigate
and take action as needed, Google spokesperson, via statement.
No Tech for Apartheid claims that the
workers were fired "indiscriminately.".
This excuse to avoid confronting
us and our concerns directly,
and attempt to justify its illegal,
retaliatory firings, is a lie, No Tech for Apartheid, via statement.
Meanwhile, many of Google's workers have
reportedly quit after experiencing "mental health consequences of working at a company that is using their labor to enable a genocide," No Tech for Apartheid said.
On a personal level, I am opposed
to Google taking any military
contracts — no matter which
government they’re with or what
exactly the contract is about. , Cheyne Anderson, a Google Cloud software engineer based
in Washington who was arrested during a sit-in, to CNBC
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
March Retail Sales , Exceeded Expectations.
New Commerce Department data surprised
some analysts on April 15, 'The Hill' reports. .
The agency's latest estimates indicate
that March retail sales increased by 0.7%.
They were only expected
to rise 0.3% last month.
While sales exceeded estimates for March, the jump
was still below the 0.9% increase in February.
Compared to the same time last year, total sales
for the first three months of 2024 were up 2.1%.
On April 10, the Labor Department released data showing that inflation rose last month. .
The consumer price index (CPI)
increased 0.4% in March and 3.5% annually.
In February, consumer prices
increased 3.2% year-over-year. .
Still, the newest Commerce Department data suggests that Americans continue to spend despite prolonged inflation, 'The Hill' reports.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Fears of Potential Iranian Attack , Drive US Stocks Down , Nearly 500 Points.
CNN reports that United States stocks dropped on
April 12 amid rising tensions in the Middle East pushing
traders to seek safe havens like gold and bonds.
CNN reports that United States stocks dropped on
April 12 amid rising tensions in the Middle East pushing
traders to seek safe havens like gold and bonds.
By mid-afternoon, the Dow had fallen
1.4%, the S&P 500 went down 1.6%,
and the Nasdaq dropped 1.8%.
The dip came after the White House announced
that both the U.S. and Israel are on alert for
a potential attack by Iran or its allies.
The dip came after the White House announced
that both the U.S. and Israel are on alert for
a potential attack by Iran or its allies.
The warning comes after Iran
accused Israel of a deadly airstrike
on a consulate in Damascus, Syria. .
The news also sent oil prices up amid
fears of regional tensions escalating
as a result of the ongoing war in Gaza. .
The news also sent oil prices up amid
fears of regional tensions escalating
as a result of the ongoing war in Gaza. .
Brent crude futures jumped up to $90.42
a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate crude
futures increased to $86.65 a barrel.
Those geopolitical concerns and subsequent
rising oil prices sent investors to safe havens like
gold futures, which rose to $2,379 a troy ounce.
Those geopolitical concerns and subsequent
rising oil prices sent investors to safe havens like
gold futures, which rose to $2,379 a troy ounce.
CNN reports that Americans' opinions of
the economy have dipped in the past few
months amid persistently high inflation.
The geopolitical fears come as investors are already
contending with concerns that the Federal Reserve could
wait to bring interest rates down from a 23-year high.
Officials at the Fed have signaled that further rate
hikes could still be on the way if the central
bank's efforts to fight inflation stall.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Federal Benefit Helping , Low-Income Households , Afford Internet Coming to an End.
CNN reports that next month, low-income
Americans face a crisis that threatens millions
of households with economic distress.
The United States government says that
it can only pay about half of what it owes
on a popular federal benefits program.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announcement
represents the first tangible impact of Congress' failure
to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
The pandemic-era benefit provides
monthly discounts on internet service
for over 23 million households in the U.S.
As a result of dwindling funds,
April will be the last month
households can receive full benefits. .
In May, ACP will only be able to
provide 46% of the normal benefit
payments before ending entirely in June.
The end of the program means that millions of
people will have to choose between paying
for internet, housing and food.
According to the FCC, Internet service providers (ISPs)
could decide to close the gap for millions of households
that will be impacted by the program coming to an end.
We encourage providers to
take efforts to keep consumers
connected at this critical time, FCC statement, via CNN.
The FCC went on to add that ISPs could offer discounts, low-cost
internet plans or take other measures to ensure that service is
not interrupted for millions of low-income Americans.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
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White House Issues New Rules , on How Government Can Use AI.
White House Issues New Rules , on How Government Can Use AI.
The policy was released by the White House on March 28, 'The Hill' reports. .
It is intended to reduce AI risks
within the government.
According to a White House memo, federal agencies must now appoint a chief AI officer, add safeguards and issue reports about how AI is being used. .
Those reports will also be made public, according to 'The Hill.'.
However, some AI uses, such as those
employed by the Department of Defense, do not require reports because they would be "inconsistent with applicable law and government policy.".
Agencies will have 60 days
to appoint a chief AI officer.
Safeguards to protect Americans' rights and safety must be implemented by December.
Vice President Kamala Harris
weighed in on the development.
I believe that all leaders
from governments, civil society
and the private sector have a
moral, ethical and societal duty... , Vice President Kamala Harris, via call with reporters.
... to make sure that artificial
intelligence is adopted and advanced
in a way that protects the public from
potential harm, while ensuring everyone
is able to enjoy its full benefits, Vice President Kamala Harris, via call with reporters
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
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