Protecting Your Home From Extreme Heat Damage

Hurricanes, tornadoes and floods likely drive more headlines, but severe heat waves are actually the most dangerous weather events humans face. According to Scientific American, they’re deadlier than the other three hazards combined. There’s plenty of reporting about the effects extreme heat has on our bodies, and even on our mental health, but what about the safety and resilience of the homes we depend on for shelter? They’re impacted too.

“Although designing for extreme heat is not yet mainstream in many U.S. markets, it is likely to become more prevalent as extreme heat increases,” predicted a 2019 study from the Urban Land Institute, a global nonprofit focused on real estate and development-related development education and research. There isn’t a one-sized-fits-all approach or solution, as the study, appropriately named Scorched: Extreme Heat and Real Estate, pointed out. Different humidity levels, tree cover, and other local factors come into play.