Author: Drew Tozer
Reviewed by: Vaishnavi Nashte
Upgrades to prepare for the worst while living in a comfortable, healthy, sustainable home.
Climate change is happening, now.
The difference between staying comfortable and risking disaster might come down to your preparations.
Let’s take a step back—what’s coming, and can we do anything about it?
There’s a reason we switched from the term “global warming” to “climate change”. It’s a better description of the consequences that people will see and feel.
Yes, global temperatures are warming.
But that doesn’t mean slightly warmer temperatures for everyone. If it’s an 8°C spring day and you’re thinking about how it’d be a bit nicer if it were 10°C instead, that’s not how a 2°C global temperature increase will look.
The temperature increase will impact global weather systems. It’s changing the global climate, and it’s already leading to more extreme storms and natural disasters. Warmer water on the surface of the ocean helps to create more frequent and powerful hurricanes. Warmer temperatures and less rain mean a longer wildfire season with more extreme outbreaks.
It’s a matter of when, not if, extreme storms will happen in your area.
While it’s fun to picture grand solutions like underground bunkers and off-grid cabins, that’s not a realistic option for most people.
Start with the basics.
Part 1: Prep for Tuesday, not Doomsday
A slogan in the Prepper community is “Prep for Tuesday, not Doomsday”. It means staying realistic about your supplies and getting prepared for the scenarios that are most likely to happen.
Every house should have enough supplies to live comfortably through a 72-hour power outage in a heat wave or cold snap.
I keep a Blackout Bag in my kitchen that includes a battery-powered radio, a flashlight for each person, a first-aid kit, power banks for phones, spare batteries, playing cards, and a bit of cash.
For families with small kids, buy some equipment that’s just for them. KIds are happier and more patient in power outages if they’re included in the solution—make them responsible for their inflatable lantern, flashlight, or glow sticks. It becomes an adventure.
It’s also important to have enough food and water for every person, and a way to cook it (or pick foods that don’t require cooking). Don’t invest in exotic options like emergency rations—just buy an extra can or box every time you go to the grocery store and build up the pantry over time. The goal is to have foods that you already enjoy regularly.
In cold climates, it’s great to have a backup heat source like a wood stove or wood-burning fireplace insert, although that’s not always possible. Traditional camping gear is useful in a pinch, especially in a condo or apartment. Pick a room and camp indoors with a tent, blankets, and sleeping bags. It’s easier to keep a smaller space warm and comfortable.
In summer, battery-powered fans are cheap and useful. If you can afford it, an energy-efficient window AC and a small propane generator could be a life-saving investment. I prefer propane because it doesn’t spoil like gasoline—you can use the propane tank from your BBQ.
Think about your situation (house, family, climate, etc.) and work through a scenario. How panicked would you be if a 72-hour power outage started right now? What if it were peak summer or winter conditions?
Bonus points if you test your preps. Make a game of it. Spend a day without electricity and find out what you miss the most—I bet your next purchase will be a way to make a morning coffee!
Part 2: Upgrade your house
Once you have the basics covered, you can move on to the big stuff.
How do you prepare your house for climate change? It depends on your local climate, your house, and your budget – but everyone can benefit from these steps:
- Electrify your home (get a heat pump):
Replace your gas and combustion appliances with electric options. Heat pumps are a path to sustainable heating, as more renewables are added to local grids. Climate change isn’t a cliff—every degree will impact the severity of storms and magnitude of damage. Reducing carbon emissions means aligning with a sustainable future. It’s also powerful when combined with #3 on this list.
There are other benefits, too. Right-sized heat pumps improve comfort, allow for better air quality, and reduce the risk of gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s a better quality of life, regardless of climate change.
- Upgrade the building envelope (air sealing, insulation, windows, and doors)
Buildings are designed to protect us from outdoor conditions. The building envelope is the barrier between inside and the roof, walls, floor, windows, and doors of the house. The amount of heating and cooling a house needs largely depends on the quality of those surfaces. Old, leaky houses are uncomfortable because air and heat are constantly leaking out of the house.
But homes can be built to such high standards as Passivhaus that they require no heating system at all. It’s expensive to upgrade an existing house to that level of quality, but fixing weak points in your building envelope will improve its resilience. An energy assessment is a useful step to create a roadmap.
- Aim for energy independence
Energy independence is matching energy supply and demand within an area. It’s generating all the energy that you use. On an international scale, it means not relying on other countries for domestic energy use – and for you, it means generating enough energy on your property to cover your needs.
You can’t extract oil and gas in your backyard, but you can install solar panels to generate electricity. That’s why electrification is a key preparation for climate change. When you install a heat pump and an electric water heater, and power them with rooftop solar, you’re protected from long-term energy prices, geopolitics, and power outages.
Each step is simple, but not easy.
The best way forward is to implement changes when you’re planning other upgrades.
If you’re thinking about a home renovation or mechanical replacement (HVAC, plumbing, and electrical), consider how to leverage that opportunity to make your house more resilient.
You don’t need to convert your basement into a doomsday bunker while you stock up on ammo and body armor. But when it’s time to replace your old shingled roof, don’t immediately pick the cheapest path forward with a new shingled roof. Consider installing a metal roof to protect from wind storms, hail, and wildfires—and find a great roofing contractor to add insulation and improve air tightness while they’re at it.
Preparing a house for the impact of climate change is a long-term game.
Prepare to help your community
Climate change is happening, whether you care or not.
This year, as hot as it is, will be one of the coldest years for the rest of your life, as global temperatures continue to increase. You will live through more heat waves and natural disasters than any previous generation.
Taking no action is a choice. It’s hoping that the inevitable won’t happen.
When another once-in-a-century storm is coming, will you rush to the store to fight with neighbours over last-minute canned foods and toilet paper? Will your strategy come down to hoping that it won’t be as bad as the forecast predicts?
You have the tremendous privilege to be in a position where you can even think about preparing for climate change. Take a moment to appreciate that. Climate change is an upcoming disaster that will hit the most vulnerable the hardest.
Most people in the world, and even in your local area, can’t afford to prepare.
Will you be in a position to help your community after the next once-in-a-century storm hits?
