How to Prepare for Extreme Weather

The idea of global climate change is, by and large, no longer questioned. It is happening. But as science’s understanding of the phenomenon improves, there has been a change in nomenclature.

From the mid-1970s, when the term was coined, until the late 1980s, the phrase “global warming” was used. Referring to the increase of the earth’s surface temperature, this term is not inaccurate, but it is inadequate – a steadily rising surface temperature is only one of the affects humanity has had on the earth.

Other affects included changes in precipitation and other weather patterns, seas both rising and becoming warmer and worsening storms and other naturally occurring phenomenon. Global warming exists, but it is only one of a host of globally felt climate changes that can be traced back to humanity.

Extreme Weather

While it’s difficult for any given individual to gauge the increase of average surface level of the earth – an increase of about 1.4°F over the past century – the effects of global climate change as a while can be keenly felt.

These effects are plainly evident in extreme weather. Sweltering summers and bitter cold winter, increased incidence of unusually strong storms and hurricanes, abnormal increases in precipitation in some regions and abnormal decreases in others – these are all symptoms of global climate change.

Save Energy While Preparing for Extreme Weather

Luckily, there are a number of ways you can prepare your home for extreme weather and reduce energy usage at the same time. Start with basic steps. Purchase appliances – air conditioning units and furnaces, in particular – with and ENERGY STAR® rating. Replacing aging HVAC filters and properly insulating ductwork will prevent equipment from working overtime, using extra energy unnecessarily.

Heat loss in the winter and air conditioning loss in the summer, is easy to prevent by caulking window and door frames and by installing weatherstripping, door sweeps or door bottoms in exterior doors, blocking leaks.

These steps alone, simple enough for anybody to do, can go a very long way toward preparing your home against weather extremes while also reducing its energy usage.

Learn more by downloading our Simply Conserve Homeowner Checklist for Cold Weather!