A climate primer for home buyers and owners

Outside Peterborough Pete's house, April 1 2025

I’m writing from Wakefield, Québec in the first week of April, 2025. We had a pretty normal winter for a change – tons of snow to make the skiers happy. Last winter was mostly cycling weather to make the cyclists like me happy. Tonight the weather might get ugly here. We’re looking at freezing rain again after getting hit last week. But it doesn’t look as bad as parts of Ontario; my buddy Peterborough Pete is still on a generator after four days. So why do I call it 'climate disruption' and not 'climate change' or 'global warming' (which actually sounds lovely at the end of a long winter!)? And how can we protect our homes? The following is a quickie primer on climate change and resilience. And by the way I study this stuff and I trust science.

Climate change or climate disruption?

Those of us who are not climate geeks might ask if this ugly weather is caused by climate change. In fact, weather is not climate. Weather is what happens day-to-day at my place. Climate is long-range historical records and projections over large regions. I would be full of hot air if I told you that one ice storm or any other weather event was caused by climate change. There are too many geographic and human variables – landforms, changes to forests, proximity to water, air currents, cloud cover, natural yearly variation and so on, in combination with the greenhouse gasses we foolish humans are adding to the atmosphere. Will this summer be hot? Wet? Dunno. It’s hard to predict the weather next week never mind next month or beyond. But despite the challenges weather events are adding data points to our models and we’re getting better at both short-term prediction and long-range projections. The simple truth is that global average temperatures have risen, they’re projected to rise further, and a warmer atmosphere – even by a degree or two overall - is changing out local weather patterns. Our weather here is becomeing less predictable and more intense storms. That’s why I prefer ‘climate disruption’ rather than ‘climate change’. 'global warming' which sounds lovely at the end of a long winter!

Past climate records and computer modelling of climate patterns help us assign risk for future weather events, and the most recent advances help us tailor these risk calculations to smaller and smaller regions, a process called downscaling. You can take these downscaled projections, which are freely available online (e.g. see this link for the Canadian Climate Atlas and this link for the US) and create a risk profile for your own region. For example, the Canadian Climate Atlas says our region will see longer dry periods punctuated by more severe storms. We can expect more river and lake flooding and widespread basement flooding as the sewers get deluged. Also, as the temperature rises we’re getting more rain on frozen ground leading to flooding. Growing risk from storms is one factor, but it’s really compounding historical development patterns: Over centuries we have built near water, and cities continue to grow and we continue to build in risky place. And then they flood. Surprise! Insurers are so freaked about ballooning water damage payouts they’ve changed the rules on overland flooding. And that leads me to risk reduction, which I consider essential in any discussion about green building or sustainability.

The good news is that with some basic info, you can protect a home from increasingly severe weather. Try ecohome and Building Science Corporation, two of my favourite resources, for detailed info about designing resilient new construction. The following is a basic primer to get you thinking about resilience. And I need to point out that although these are all best practices now, I think they will be critical in the future. Let’s start with reducing risk from water.

Not Singin’ in the Rain

The first thing to consider is something buyers often ignore: are you buying in a flood zone? Is there a lake, stream or river nearby? How close is the property to water level? What do the neighbours and the municipality say? Is there a history of flooding in your neighborhood? Are you buying a basement or a bathtub? My opinion: dig a six foot hole in the ground and sooner or later it will fill up with water.  Talk to your insurance agent to make sure you’re covered for overland flooding (if you didn't ask for it you don't have it. It's a separate rider on your home policy.) If you own or are buying a house and you’re concerned about the growing risk from downpours, here are some things to look for:

• Wait for rain. Are there puddles and/or wet patches near the foundation?

• Large roof overhangs protect windows, doors and walls, and they keep downpours away from a foundation;

• Basement or no basement, grade your lot so that water runs away from your home rather than towards it in a storm;

• Install window wells with plastic covers on windows close to grade;

• I don’t like rain gutters because they often get damaged in the winter or blocked with ice and/or debris but sometimes they’re necessary, especially on the uphill side of a house;

• Make sure you have footing drains (also called weeper or drain tiles), and that they are functioning properly;

• Don’t drain those gutters into those footing drains. Direct your downspouts downhill and well away from the house;

• In a basement on a sewer, or in a wet neighborhood, a sump pump (preferably with a battery backup) and backwater valve are essential

• Make sure your insurance matches your risk level for flooding – preferably before you buy if you’re buying.

• And finally if you're pondering building new, consider building without a basement on a grade-level slab.

  

  Note all the lovely details. Source: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/green-basics/foundation-drains-2

  

  Slab on grade - no basement to flood! Source: https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2017/07/17/foundation-in-15-photos

While we’re talking precipitation, as I mentioned some regions like mine face longer periods without rain. Our water resources are not guaranteed even in Eastern Canada where fresh water seems plentiful. Expect shortages – even in cities. I save water (a) with water-efficient taps and shower heads in my home and (b) in rain barrels outside for the garden. Needless to say watering the lawn is a no-no. Instead, turn your lawn into a drought-resistant landscape. But don’t use mulch near the house because it’s a fire hazard. Fire is a concern especially if you’re in what we call the wildland urban interface, like in many suburban and exurban areas, as we get more dry spells. Fire safety is my topic in another blog but for great advice see Fire Smart Canada. But there doesn't need to be fire to get hot...

Global warming: A hot topic

I don't like the term 'gobal warming' (it suggests it's gradual and we can adapt) but fact is it's getting warmer here. For cooling a home I’m a big fan of heat pumps. Problem is they cost money and unless you have solar panels, they’re useless in an outage. Why not start with solutions that don’t include mechanical air conditioning? At the top of the list, opt for roofing with lighter colours because a black roof will not keep you cool in the summer. Also make sure that the attic is properly ventilated. Heat can migrate from a hot attic into your upstairs. Next, let’s look at your house’s envelope - your walls, windows, doors, top floor ceiling and basement floor. An air-tight and well insulated envelope will keep heat in during the cold months and also keep heat out in summer. Next, I’m mystified by these new house designs with no eaves. In addition to protecting your foundation, windows and siding from rain, an extended roof with large soffits will help with attic ventilation and keep high summer sun off your walls and out of windows. Likewise, consider awnings on the windows that get lots of summer sun. Look to trees for shading, and plant trees for the future. Deciduous trees can offer shade in the summer while allowing the winter sun in for free heat.  Next, that new paved driveway is a heat storage battery that will gather heat during the day and radiate it back at you at night when you’re trying to sleep. There are alternatives to asphalt that will cool the air around your house and look cool with your drought-resistant landscaping. Lastly, look at wind maps for your region (I like www.windy.com) and look at your house’s orientation. Can you design your windows to maximize natural ventilation, maybe by buying casements as replacement windows that open to catch the wind?

Prepping for Stormy Weather

These are just a few of the many structural elements that the average home owner or buyer can add or look for in a resilient home, from the roof to its location with regard to flood risk. In closing, don’t be scared. Start prepping for climate disruptions now - before the next storm. Because every day a little rain must fall!