Climate Change and Your House
As cold snaps, heat pockets, tornados, and intense storms become the norm in the Midwest, architects are working to design homes to keep the worst of climate change at bay.
Wildly fluctuating temperature is a main contributor to building wear and tear that homeowners and designers must plan for, Illinois Institute of Technology Assistant Professor of Architecture Youngjin Hwang says.
“[Temperature changes] will lead to severe indoor thermal conditions issues if buildings are not resistant to extreme weather, especially old buildings and buildings in low-income districts, and will also result in increased energy use for heating and cooling,” Hwang says.
Global temperature is expected to rise about 3 degrees Fahrenheit by 2040, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. However, severe cold events can happen even as we experience record-breaking summer temperatures, Hwang explains.
“Since buildings were constructed based on the codes and regulations in place at the time, most are not resilient to climate changes. Existing buildings have shown that they do not provide sufficient comfort during extreme hot and cold events. This is one of the major reasons why building retrofitting has emerged as a key research area in the building industry,” says Hwang.
Building codes for cities across the country normally use a worst-case scenario as a baseline for any construction. For example, a structure could be required to withstand a 100-year flood event. However, a remarkable flood in the 1990s could become a normal seasonal storm, and policies need to keep pace.
“Extreme weather conditions could drastically increase building heating and cooling demands, potentially exceeding grid capacity, leading to blackouts, and necessitating overall grid infrastructure redevelopment,” Hwang says.
Brick and masonry homes common in Chicago can fare better in warmer climates than wooden homes. Brick stores heat and can save energy in hot weather conditions. However, masonry increases the risk of condensation from high humidity, which can lead to mold and mildew.
Insulation is key to protecting your home and ballooning utility bills.
“From a homeowner’s perspective, budget constraints are a significant issue. While numerous advanced building technologies and materials offer greater resilience and resistance against climate changes, they generally cost more than traditional options,” Hwang says. “Convincing homeowners to invest in these higher-cost solutions for future benefits can be challenging. Therefore, it may be necessary to develop more stringent regulatory frameworks that support the adoption of these advanced technologies, similar to the incentives for solar panels and heat pumps available in several states.”
