Building Homes to Withstand Climate Change

I know many of us enjoyed spending time with our friends and family over Thanksgiving, and probably weren’t paying as much attention to the news.  Even so, one article caught my eye the day after Thanksgiving, so much so, I felt it was critical to re-post it to the friends and colleagues of Priority Energy; the 2018 report by the U.S. Global Change Research Program on climate change  and global warming.

The report caught my attention via a headline related to the likely effects of climate change on regional farmers (yes, we still have some farms in central Illinois)!  The impact on Midwest agriculture is not the only reason I’m forwarding this; the research lends confirmation to what we have been witnessing as building science specialists over the past several years in the homes and buildings we live and work in.

Priority Energy has seen many of our customers rethink the way they design and build as a result of the significant change in Illinois’ weather. We have seen a significant uptick in moisture related structural and health complaints in homes and buildings due to the more extreme winter and summer weather trends.

The good news is, creating homes and buildings that perform well in all weather conditions doesn’t mean you have to make expensive construction changes. It means simply returning to basic building practices and utilizing building science. Remember to incorporate good attic air sealing, accurately sized heating and cooling systems, proper ventilation, and to follow the HVAC manufacturer’s instructions (see fan speeds)!  Please take a few minutes to read the National Climate Assessment report.