The Cool Down

California homeowner builds 52-panel off-grid solar array, now powers 2 EVs, AC, and a well

On five acres in Southern California, one homeowner designed and built an off-grid solar system sized for more than basic ...
The Cool Down

Texas State Fair cut admission and parking, but '$25 turkey legs' still keep crowds away

However, price cuts on tickets have done little to calm the criticism surrounding the 2026 State Fair of Texas.
The Cool Down

A utility flags a meter problem, then a homeowner is quoted $70,145 for rooftop solar

A homeowner whose electric use more than doubled after a utility-reported meter problem went looking into solar panels for ...
The Cool Down

In Cyprus, leaked Deloitte files trace how Abramovich assets vanished before public accounts were filed

Public accounts approved by Deloitte Cyprus no longer showed $672 million in assets linked to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich according to a new investigation.
The Cool Down

California family spots garage water heater sinking into rotten stand after AC drain leak

A Southern California family discovered its garage water heater was sinking into a rotting stand that had also been soaked by ...
The Cool Down

UK homeowner weighing £850 or £2,300 tank swap hears 90-liter option may be too small

Upgrading to a more efficient water heater can cut household energy bills, but a U.K. homeowner found vastly different ...
The Cool Down

Alaska rescuers find walrus calf hidden between 2 dead adults, then nurse him to new home

On a remote beach near Point Lay, a Pacific walrus calf was discovered wedged between the remains of two adult walruses after ...
The Cool Down

North Carolina bear cub survives days with its head trapped in a jar

Staff with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission rescued a black bear cub in North Carolina after it spent several ...
The Cool Down

Homeowner waits 90 days to change furnace filter after getting a dog, then has to rip it out in pieces

A homeowner who followed a 90-day replacement timeline for their furnace filter ended up with a filter so clogged that it had ...
The Cool Down

In the US, thrift stores are getting so pricey that even used junk can cost more than new products

Thrift stores served as a reliable place to find cheap household necessities and the occasional hidden gem at a fraction of ...
The Cool Down

Homeowner turns on heat, finds loose furnace exhaust connection

The homeowner explained that they went downstairs to check thermostat behavior and spotted an exhaust pipe that only barely ...
The Cool Down

Former CIA officer used Florida homes in $200m scam, then admitted exposing a secret source

A former CIA officer admitted running a $200 million fraud scheme in which a bogus classified program was used as cover for South Florida real-estate purchases.