Americans share how they are retrofitting their homes to adapt to extreme weather

Facing increasingly severe weather, Americans are modifying their homes to cope with heat, wildfires and hurricanes, but many worry that personal efforts alone won’t solve the crisis.

Jem Bartholomew reports for The Guardian.

In short:

Rose from Washington insulated her office to escape extreme heat after experiencing a deadly heatwave.
Shannon Tucker in Denver now cleans her yard and gutter regularly to reduce wildfire risk and installed solar panels.
Roxane Rolingson in Texas invested in hurricane screens to protect her home from worsening storms but acknowledges most people can't afford such upgrades.

Key quote:

“It’s frustrating because like, I can’t control what my neighbors do.”

— Shannon Tucker, homeowner in Denver

Why this matters:

Climate change is making extreme weather more common, forcing people to protect their homes. However, these measures are often expensive, leaving lower-income families more vulnerable to disasters.

www.theguardian.com

TransAlta head office building in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Credit: Jeff Whyte Photography/BigStock Photo ID: 449639657

The tab to keep a Pacific Northwest coal plant on standby keeps rising. Who will pay?

Electric utilities across the Pacific Northwest are fuming that their customers might be saddled with the costs of a coal-burning power plant that isn’t producing any power.The messy dispute stems from the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to sustain the American coal industry.

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Americans share how they are retrofitting their homes to adapt to extreme weather

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