As wildfires, superstorms, floods, tornadoes, and other climate events rage on, resilient building has become paramount.
Resilient buildings are specifically designed to endure and minimize damage from these extreme weather events, ensuring the safety and comfort of their occupants while reducing long-term repair and operational costs. The key features of resilient buildings are not just protective measures but also sustainable systems that promote energy efficiency, water management, and overall durability.
Resilience Against Extreme Weather Events
Resilient homes are engineered to withstand the harshest of weather conditions. For example, impact-resistant windows and doors are designed to prevent breakage from flying debris during hurricanes or tornadoes, significantly reducing the risk of injury or interior damage.
Fire-resistant materials such as concrete, metal, and fiber-cement siding are used to minimize the impact of wildfires, while flame-retardant roofing materials like standing seam metal roofs, or clay tiles provide further protection. These materials not only reduce fire damage but also lower the chances of a fire spreading from one home to another, offering community-scale protection.
Comfort, Health, and Energy Efficiency
Beyond their ability to withstand disasters, resilient homes are built with the comfort and health of their inhabitants in mind. High-performance windows and doors, advanced insulation, and weatherproofing materials not only protect against external threats but also contribute to superior indoor climate control. This makes these homes more energy-efficient by reducing the need for heating and cooling, leading to lower utility bills.
Incorporating efficient HVAC systems, air purifiers, and ventilation technologies, resilient buildings maintain good indoor air quality, which is especially important during natural disasters when outdoor air can be heavily polluted with smoke, allergens, or mold. By filtering out contaminants and maintaining a stable internal environment, these systems create healthier living spaces, particularly for individuals with respiratory issues or allergies.
Structural Integrity and Reinforced Foundations
Structural integrity is a cornerstone of resilient building. Homes are often constructed with reinforced concrete, steel framing, and hurricane straps to strengthen the framework and foundation, providing enhanced protection against high winds and earthquakes. This extra reinforcement significantly reduces the risk of structural failure, helping homes remain intact during extreme conditions.
Water Management Systems
In regions prone to flooding, resilient homes are equipped with drainage systems that direct water away from the foundation. Basements are often safeguarded with waterproof coatings and sump pumps that can quickly remove excess water during heavy rainfall or floods, preventing costly water damage and mold growth. Sloped landscaping and the use of permeable paving materials also help divert water away from the home, preventing water from pooling near foundations.
Energy Independence and Backup Power
In addition to protecting against physical damage, resilient homes often prioritize energy independence. By incorporating renewable energy systems like solar panels, these homes can generate their own power, ensuring an uninterrupted energy supply even during widespread grid outages.
Battery storage systems can store excess energy for use during extended power outages. Backup generators further enhance resilience, ensuring that critical systems such as heating, cooling, refrigeration, and medical devices remain operational during emergencies. This independence is particularly vital during disasters when power grids can be offline for days or weeks.
Financial and Insurance Benefits
There are numerous financial incentives for building or retrofitting homes with resilient materials and technologies. Homes that incorporate resilient design are far less likely to suffer catastrophic damage during extreme weather events, leading to significantly reduced repair and maintenance costs over time. Additionally, many insurance companies recognize the reduced risk associated with resilient homes and offer lower premiums for homeowners who implement these safety features.
Beyond reduced repair and insurance costs, resilient homes tend to have higher resale values. Their enhanced durability, energy efficiency, and lower maintenance needs make them attractive to prospective buyers, who see long-term value in owning a home that can withstand the increasing impacts of climate change.
Community Resilience and Public Benefit
Resilient building extends benefits beyond individual homeowners, contributing to the resilience of entire communities. Homes designed to withstand disasters put less strain on emergency services and public resources during recovery efforts. In the aftermath of a major storm or wildfire, homes built with resilient materials are less likely to require immediate intervention from firefighters, rescue teams, or emergency shelters, freeing up these resources for more vulnerable areas.
When homes within a community are built to endure extreme weather events, the community as a whole recovers more quickly. Fewer homes need extensive repairs, and displaced families can return home sooner, allowing local economies to stabilize faster after a disaster. This collective resilience reduces the social and economic impacts of disasters, fostering stronger, more adaptable communities in the long term.
Resilient building not only protects homes from the increasing severity of climate-related events but also offers significant financial, health, and community benefits. By investing in resilient design and technology, homeowners can ensure the long-term safety and sustainability of their properties while contributing to the overall resilience of their communities.
Interested in learning more? Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Academy has robust courses on resilient building, net zero carbon, green building fundamentals, green product essentials and green building program like ENERGY STAR, Zero Energy Ready Homes, Indoor airPLUS, WaterSense, and HERS ratings. Visit the COGNITION Academy microsite for more information.
If you’re interested in purchasing carbon offsets to mitigate emissions from your products, projects or lifestyle, or if you want more information about Green Builder Media’s net zero carbon consulting services, contact me at sara.gutterman@greenbuildermedia.com.
As cofounder and CEO of Green Builder Media, Sara is a visionary thought leader and passionate advocate for sustainability. A former venture capitalist, she has participated in the life cycle (from funding to exit) of over 20 companies, with an emphasis on combining sustainability and profitability. She lives in Lake City, Colo., with her husband, where she is an avid long-distance runner, snowboarder, and Crossfit trainer. She is also on the Board of Directors at Dvele, runs the Rural Segment for Energize Colorado, and is a former County Commissioner.
Benefits of Resilient Building
As wildfires, superstorms, floods, tornadoes, and other climate events rage on, resilient building has become paramount.
Resilient buildings are specifically designed to endure and minimize damage from these extreme weather events, ensuring the safety and comfort of their occupants while reducing long-term repair and operational costs. The key features of resilient buildings are not just protective measures but also sustainable systems that promote energy efficiency, water management, and overall durability.
Resilience Against Extreme Weather Events
Resilient homes are engineered to withstand the harshest of weather conditions. For example, impact-resistant windows and doors are designed to prevent breakage from flying debris during hurricanes or tornadoes, significantly reducing the risk of injury or interior damage.
Fire-resistant materials such as concrete, metal, and fiber-cement siding are used to minimize the impact of wildfires, while flame-retardant roofing materials like standing seam metal roofs, or clay tiles provide further protection. These materials not only reduce fire damage but also lower the chances of a fire spreading from one home to another, offering community-scale protection.
Comfort, Health, and Energy Efficiency
Beyond their ability to withstand disasters, resilient homes are built with the comfort and health of their inhabitants in mind. High-performance windows and doors, advanced insulation, and weatherproofing materials not only protect against external threats but also contribute to superior indoor climate control. This makes these homes more energy-efficient by reducing the need for heating and cooling, leading to lower utility bills.
Incorporating efficient HVAC systems, air purifiers, and ventilation technologies, resilient buildings maintain good indoor air quality, which is especially important during natural disasters when outdoor air can be heavily polluted with smoke, allergens, or mold. By filtering out contaminants and maintaining a stable internal environment, these systems create healthier living spaces, particularly for individuals with respiratory issues or allergies.
Structural Integrity and Reinforced Foundations
Structural integrity is a cornerstone of resilient building. Homes are often constructed with reinforced concrete, steel framing, and hurricane straps to strengthen the framework and foundation, providing enhanced protection against high winds and earthquakes. This extra reinforcement significantly reduces the risk of structural failure, helping homes remain intact during extreme conditions.
Water Management Systems
In regions prone to flooding, resilient homes are equipped with drainage systems that direct water away from the foundation. Basements are often safeguarded with waterproof coatings and sump pumps that can quickly remove excess water during heavy rainfall or floods, preventing costly water damage and mold growth. Sloped landscaping and the use of permeable paving materials also help divert water away from the home, preventing water from pooling near foundations.
Energy Independence and Backup Power
In addition to protecting against physical damage, resilient homes often prioritize energy independence. By incorporating renewable energy systems like solar panels, these homes can generate their own power, ensuring an uninterrupted energy supply even during widespread grid outages.
Battery storage systems can store excess energy for use during extended power outages. Backup generators further enhance resilience, ensuring that critical systems such as heating, cooling, refrigeration, and medical devices remain operational during emergencies. This independence is particularly vital during disasters when power grids can be offline for days or weeks.
Financial and Insurance Benefits
There are numerous financial incentives for building or retrofitting homes with resilient materials and technologies. Homes that incorporate resilient design are far less likely to suffer catastrophic damage during extreme weather events, leading to significantly reduced repair and maintenance costs over time. Additionally, many insurance companies recognize the reduced risk associated with resilient homes and offer lower premiums for homeowners who implement these safety features.
Beyond reduced repair and insurance costs, resilient homes tend to have higher resale values. Their enhanced durability, energy efficiency, and lower maintenance needs make them attractive to prospective buyers, who see long-term value in owning a home that can withstand the increasing impacts of climate change.
Community Resilience and Public Benefit
Resilient building extends benefits beyond individual homeowners, contributing to the resilience of entire communities. Homes designed to withstand disasters put less strain on emergency services and public resources during recovery efforts. In the aftermath of a major storm or wildfire, homes built with resilient materials are less likely to require immediate intervention from firefighters, rescue teams, or emergency shelters, freeing up these resources for more vulnerable areas.
When homes within a community are built to endure extreme weather events, the community as a whole recovers more quickly. Fewer homes need extensive repairs, and displaced families can return home sooner, allowing local economies to stabilize faster after a disaster. This collective resilience reduces the social and economic impacts of disasters, fostering stronger, more adaptable communities in the long term.
Resilient building not only protects homes from the increasing severity of climate-related events but also offers significant financial, health, and community benefits. By investing in resilient design and technology, homeowners can ensure the long-term safety and sustainability of their properties while contributing to the overall resilience of their communities.
Interested in learning more? Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Academy has robust courses on resilient building, net zero carbon, green building fundamentals, green product essentials and green building program like ENERGY STAR, Zero Energy Ready Homes, Indoor airPLUS, WaterSense, and HERS ratings. Visit the COGNITION Academy microsite for more information.
If you’re interested in purchasing carbon offsets to mitigate emissions from your products, projects or lifestyle, or if you want more information about Green Builder Media’s net zero carbon consulting services, contact me at sara.gutterman@greenbuildermedia.com.
By Sara Gutterman
As cofounder and CEO of Green Builder Media, Sara is a visionary thought leader and passionate advocate for sustainability. A former venture capitalist, she has participated in the life cycle (from funding to exit) of over 20 companies, with an emphasis on combining sustainability and profitability. She lives in Lake City, Colo., with her husband, where she is an avid long-distance runner, snowboarder, and Crossfit trainer. She is also on the Board of Directors at Dvele, runs the Rural Segment for Energize Colorado, and is a former County Commissioner.Also Read