As the realities of climate change hit home for Americans, many are taking matters into their own hands, finding innovative ways to adapt their living spaces to a shifting climate. From repurposing insulation to shield against searing heat to installing steel shutters as shields against strengthening storms, US homeowners are on the front lines of climate resilience.
Turning Homes Into Heat Refuges
When a record-smashing heatwave dubbed the “heat dome” baked the Pacific Northwest in 2021, reaching a sweltering 120°F (49°C), Rose, 62, and her elderly mother found themselves in a life-threatening situation. As the mercury climbed, so did Rose’s heart rate. Desperate to cool down, Rose resorted to filling the bathtub with ice water to lay in.
Determined to avoid a repeat crisis, Rose transformed her office into a heat-proof sanctuary. Armed with 2-inch-thick insulation boards sourced from a friend, she weatherproofed the room to serve as a refuge from future heatwaves. She also invested in a deep soaking tub, ready to be filled at the first sign of soaring temperatures.
“The heat dome was one of the most terrifying things that I have ever experienced,” Rose recounted, the memories still vivid. “Both of us could have died … It’s very, very scary.”
Fireproofing Against Encroaching Flames
In Denver, Colorado, Shannon Tucker received a wake-up call while sprucing up her yard. Her gutter cleaner warned her about the dangers of accumulated debris, remarking, “That’s just like asking for a wildfire.” It was a revelation for Tucker, realizing that her habit of piling leaves against her house was a potential tinderbox.
Now, Tucker is diligent about clearing her gutters every six months. She’s also installed air purifiers and solar panels as additional climate-proofing measures. With major wildfires burning closer to Denver in recent years, Tucker’s phone pings with increasingly frequent air quality alerts, a stark reminder of the changing climate.
“It’s frustrating because like, I can’t control what my neighbours do…You kind of feel helpless,” Tucker shared, highlighting the need for collective action beyond individual efforts.
Steeling Against Supercharged Storms
On the Texas Gulf Coast, Roxane Rolingson, 71, has watched hurricane season morph from a defined period to a nearly year-round threat. With storms intensifying, Rolingson and her husband have had to manually board up their 25 windows before each hurricane, an increasingly burdensome task.
In 2023, Rolingson invested around $20,000 in stainless steel screens for all her windows. Now, when a hurricane looms, they can activate the corrugated shutters over the doors and evacuate quickly. While the screens were costly, Rolingson recognizes her privilege in being able to afford this level of protection.
“Lots of people [affected by the climate crisis] can’t,” Rolingson acknowledged, underscoring the inequities in climate adaptation.
Upgrading Against Unpredictable Weather
In Philadelphia, Rob Kirsch, in his 60s, has noticed storms growing more severe since he bought his home 12 years ago. A close call with a falling tree branch during an icy storm prompted Kirsch to contemplate replacing his slate roof preemptively, a $10,000 to $20,000 expense.
Over the years, Kirsch’s family has spent thousands on various home upgrades to cope with changing weather patterns, including:
- $10,000 on air conditioning
- $10,000 on new top floor windows
- $4,000 on attic insulation
- $10,000 on basement flood-proofing
However, Kirsch recognizes that many households, especially in low-income neighborhoods, can’t afford these critical adaptations, despite being most vulnerable to climate impacts.
“There’s a lot of poverty here,” Kirsch noted. “A lot of people are impacted by not having the resources to upgrade their houses in the way they need to.”
The Limits of Personal Action
While the ingenuity and resilience of these homeowners is admirable, their stories also highlight a troubling reality: the burden of climate adaptation falling on individuals rather than being addressed through collective action and systemic changes.
As Tucker pointed out, individual actions can only go so far when the crisis requires large-scale solutions. Many homeowners, particularly those with lower incomes, are left to fend for themselves against climate threats, lacking the resources to adequately protect their homes and families.
Adapting to climate change will require a society-wide effort, with governments, institutions, and communities working together to build resilience equitably. While homeowners are finding creative ways to shield themselves from warming temperatures, proliferating wildfires, and stronger storms, these individual acts of adaptation must be supported by ambitious, collective action to tackle the climate crisis at its roots.
