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The Cool Down is mainstream America's guide to a cleaner, cooler future, making it easy for people from all walks of life to help themselves while helping the planet.
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News
Slate Truck may get cargo van variants, and become America's cheapest work van
1+ week, 7+ hour ago (601+ words) The small-van segment in the US has thinned, leaving fewer options for buyers. Slate Auto's minimalist electric pickup could soon be headed in a much more practical direction, with reported cargo-van roof options that could turn the low-cost EV into…...
Philadelphia homeowner gets no-cost fix after mini-split unit overwhelms tiny backyard
1+ mon, 6+ day ago (455+ words) "The company is coming by next week to do it free of charge." A Philadelphia homeowner was excited about a newly installed mini-split system until the outdoor unit took over a tiny backyard and changed how the space looked and…...
Slate's $24,950 electric pickup with manual windows draws 180,000 early reservations
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (377+ words) Instead of using a factory paint shop, the company plans to offer wraps in more than 100 colors. Slate Auto is pitching a back-to-basics electric pickup that emphasizes utility and affordability instead of excess. With a starting price of $24,950 and a…...
Central Indiana homeowner's AC dies, then weighs 2 heat pumps against gas for subzero winters
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (554+ words) Still, upfront cost and utility prices remain real concerns. A central Indiana homeowner is facing a familiar dilemma: One aging air conditioner has failed, and now they're left wondering whether it makes more sense to replace their entire heating and…...
Homeowner replaced blower motor and thermostat, then the 2-year-old heat pump froze again
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (574+ words) The tech seemed to be "throwing out ideas and seeing if they stick." A homeowner expected the latest HVAC work to end an ongoing headache. Within days of getting a replacement blower motor and thermostat, however, the 2-year-old heat pump…...
Canadian homeowner gets a $3,900 compressor quote, and a heat pump costs nearly the same
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (689+ words) "It'll cover most of your shoulder season and even a chunk of winter." A Canadian homeowner is facing a frustrating decision that has become increasingly common: pay thousands of dollars to repair a relatively young air conditioner or spend nearly…...
Denver EV owners can park underground, but a fire marshal ban stops them from charging
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (616+ words) "They just wanted to be seen as 'doing something.'" Denver residents with electric vehicles may still be able to park underground in some buildings, but charging them there is becoming a different issue altogether. That growing tension is frustrating EV…...
Pennsylvania homeowner eyes a heat pump for winter, wonders if it's worth it
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (530+ words) A poor fit, though, can lead to winter sticker shock. Pennsylvania winters are cold enough to make any heating upgrade feel like a gamble. For one central Keystone State homeowner, the question was not whether heat pumps are gaining popularity,…...
Facebook post exposes BYD model-year mix-up, sparks $60 million refund push in Australia
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (472+ words) The used-car market may still value a 2025 model differently from a 2026 one. A Facebook post from one frustrated car buyer appears to have snowballed into a major headache for electric-vehicle-maker BYD after customers said they were sold vehicles described as…...
Fierce storm shatters a 100-watt solar panel, then a polycarbonate fix gets it working again
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (319+ words) "It was still able to produce power, even though the glass was shattered." A windstorm left one 100-watt solar panel with shattered glass — damage that often sends equipment straight to the trash. But one resourceful DIYer got creative with some…...