When we think about the effects of climate change on our homes, we tend to picture dramatic events: a hurricane tearing off a roof, a wildfire destroying a neighborhood, or a flood washing away bridges, cars, and houses—all in a matter of hours or days.
But climate change is also affecting our homes in more gradual and subtle ways.
First, the Heat
Hotter summers place additional stress on roofs, siding, windows, insulation, and air-conditioning systems. Repeated temperature swings cause materials to expand and contract, gradually contributing to cracking and warping. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat and ultraviolet radiation can also accelerate the aging of roofs, siding, and windows. Vinyl siding, for example, can warp, sag, buckle, or fade.
Then, Moisture
A warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapor, increasing the potential for intense downpours. Even when a home does not flood, repeated heavy rainfall can push water into places it never reached before—around windows, through foundations, beneath roofing materials, and into crawl spaces. Over time, recurring moisture can lead to mold, wood rot, and structural damage.
The Ground Beneath the House
Longer droughts can dry out soil. When heavy rain follows, some soils can swell significantly. Repeated cycles of shrinking and swelling can cause foundations to shift and crack. In areas experiencing severe drought, trees may also draw additional moisture from the soil, increasing the potential for foundation movement.
Pests
Warmer winters can allow insects and other pests to survive longer and expand into areas where cold temperatures previously limited them. Termites, for example, can cause significant structural damage when conditions become more favorable for their activity.
The Irony
Our homes can also make climate-related problems more expensive. As temperatures rise and heat waves become more frequent and intense, homeowners may need to use more energy to keep their homes cool. Higher electricity use means higher household expenses and, when that electricity comes from fossil fuels, more carbon emissions that contribute to further warming.
Individually, these may seem like ordinary home-maintenance problems. Collectively, they are signs of how climate change could financially affect not only people who lose their homes to hurricanes, floods, or wildfires, but increasingly most homeowners—more gradually and less dramatically.
We therefore need to think about climate resilience as more than disaster preparation. A resilient home is one designed to perform well under the conditions we are increasingly experiencing: hotter summers, heavier rainfall, longer dry periods, more smoke, and greater temperature extremes.
How Can We Make Our Homes More Climate-Resilient?
There are many relatively simple steps homeowners can take.
Protect the roof. Ridge vents or solar-powered attic fans can help release trapped hot air and reduce heat buildup in the attic. Reflective, light-colored roofing materials or coatings can also reflect more solar radiation instead of absorbing it.
Block heat before it enters. Exterior shading on south- and west-facing windows can reduce the amount of heat reaching the glass. Maintaining windows, doors, and their seals is equally important. Extreme heat can dry and crack caulk, allowing hot, humid outdoor air to enter the house.
That moisture can create problems inside walls. When warm, humid air reaches cooler surfaces inside an air-conditioned wall cavity, the moisture can condense into liquid water. Persistent moisture can cause wood framing to decay, encourage mold growth, and contribute to repeated expansion and contraction of wood, which can eventually warp studs, crack drywall, and loosen fasteners.
Manage water around the foundation. Keep gutters clean and extend downspouts so that rainwater flows away from the house. Repair plumbing and air-conditioning leaks promptly and make sure crawl spaces and attics are adequately ventilated. During severe drought, maintaining appropriate soil moisture around the foundation may also help reduce extreme soil shrinkage, although homeowners should avoid excessive watering.
Reduce conditions that attract termites and other pests. Seal cracks in foundations and exterior walls, keep firewood and scrap lumber away from the house, and avoid placing mulch directly against wooden parts of the structure. Maintaining adequate clearance between soil and wood can also make it more difficult for termites to reach the house. Regular inspections can help identify early warning signs such as mud tubes, damaged wood, or discarded wings.
These improvements can also make homes more energy-efficient, reducing both household energy costs and carbon emissions. Residential buildings account for roughly 17% of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions and about 15%–18% of total U.S. emissions. University of Michigan Carbon Footprint Factsheet
Predicting the future of climate change is important because it helps us find ways to avoid the worst consequences of a warming planet. But climate adaptation should not be only about predicting what might happen. It should also be about improving the homes we already live in so they can withstand the climate we are experiencing today—and the changes that are already underway.
Want to see your home’s carbon footprint? Use the EPA Carbon Footprint Calculator to estimate your household’s emissions.