She’s in good company. Stores around the country report running out of toilet paper, cleaners, tissues and sanitizers--almost as fast as they’re vacating their canned goods and powdered eggs.
But is this really the best we can do, faced with the first real test of our national courage since World War II?
Rather than freaking out at the midnight hour when a pandemic, wildfire, power outage or some other crisis strikes, we can create safe and secure homes that are easy to heat and cool, well ventilated, fire and storm resistant, with well stocked pantries and freezers. The resilient home has Net Zero performance, with on-site renewable power and a generator or battery backup to run critical systems such as well pumps, refrigeration and (in extreme climates) cooling or heating.
Let me offer a few examples of how specific items and design elements in a resilient home might reduce crisis anxiety:
You get the picture. Add a greenhouse garden, a food storage pantry and a couple of chickens, and this house promises a safe and comfortable haven, even during long periods of isolation. If that sounds eccentric or extreme, try the concept on your next clients. I’m betting that given the chance to do something more effective than hoard toilet paper, they’ll thank you for your forward thinking.