When people in the Midwest build homes, they have to think about the dramatic seasonal shifts that can occur in just one year. Even as weather patterns become more unpredictable and extreme, homes need to be designed and built with longevity and long-term performance in mind. With an emphasis on sustainability and on minimizing repair and maintenance, residences of every style can be designed to not only withstand harsh weather but also to be safe, comfortable, and even energy efficient.
The best homes are ones that allow their inhabitants to safely go about their daily routines while increasing the comfort level of the home’s occupants and reducing the amount of energy used for heating and cooling while lessening the repair costs and the disruptions to life caused by severe weather. There are many thoughtful decisions one can make before the construction of a home that can work to make it a home that will not only withstand extreme weather but also will be a great asset to its owners for years to come.
Designing for Local Conditions
Housing needs to respond to the environments in which they are built, and home designers and builders should treat the house as a whole system and recognize the interrelationship between its many components. A simple design that avoids compromise is key to creating houses that function well and that are economical to build and to maintain in the long term. Understanding the effects of extreme weather and designing houses that withstand it should be one of the designer’s first considerations.
Designing a home for extreme weather needs to begin with the housing design being altered for the local conditions present on the building lot. By thinking through the various aspects of custom homes in Indiana during the home design phase, all aspects of a home can be altered and constructed for optimal performance before any inefficiencies or additional costs are added to the design.
Proper siting is one of the most effective and least expensive means of achieving improved energy efficiency. By opening up south-facing walls to the sun during the winter and closing them during the summer using shading devices, building designers can create structures that reduce heating loads in the winter and cooling loads in the summer. Moreover, sites with well-drained ground and that are gently sloped and wide to allow for easy grass mowing are far easier to maintain during periods of inclement weather than those with standing water, muddy lawns, or lawns that collect debris and become buried under snow.
Strengthening the Building Envelope
One of the most important components of a house is the building envelope or shell of the house. It is the combination of the roof, walls, windows, and doors, plus insulation and the methods to seal air leaks to keep outside air from entering. It protects the inside of a house from weather, helps to keep a house at a constant temperature, and can reduce the amount of strain put on a heating or cooling system to maintain that temperature.
A well-insulated home with effective air-sealing will keep the interior temperature steady through periods of extremely hot or cold weather, putting less pressure on your heating and cooling systems. Additionally, by reducing the amount of energy required to heat and cool your home, you can expect to pay less on your monthly utility bills.
Doors and windows need to be selected based on not only their look but also their ability to keep air out, to keep water out, and to withstand wind. The roof needs to be appropriately sloped, it needs to have the proper fastening, and it needs to be covered with the proper materials in order to handle the home’s expected snow load as well as wind-borne rain and even storm events.
The same concern applies to a home’s ability to control moisture. With a home that has poor ventilation or that was not properly waterproofed, moisture can cause problems with mold and the deterioration of a home’s structure. The moisture in the air must be managed through a home’s construction with features such as drainage, ventilation, and the management of a home’s vapor. By including these features in a home’s design, a home can remain dry throughout the year and help prevent a variety of problems.
Preparing for Power Disruptions
Severe weather often brings power outages, making energy resilience an increasingly important part of home design. A well-insulated home can remain comfortable longer when heating or cooling systems stop working.
For power outages, homes can be designed to provide added comfort when the heating or cooling goes out for a period of time. Homes can also be preplanned for the addition of a backup power source, such as a battery, solar, or a high-efficiency electric system. Even if installed immediately, it is always less expensive to incorporate these systems into the home during the construction process rather than as a retrofit.
Design elements for natural lighting, openable windows, and cross ventilation can also be important.
Choosing Durable, Repairable Materials
Materials in homes can affect how long a house lasts before needing repair. Materials with low maintenance can minimize damage to homes during weather events and extend the life of the home before needing to be replaced. Moreover, materials that can be repaired locally have greater value than materials that must be replaced with specialty items for repair.
Durability does not have to equal non-repairable parts. By using materials and systems that can be serviced by local repair personnel, a homeowner can add value to their home long after the initial construction has been completed.
This type of design approach is sustainable, as it is easier to extend the life of a house with this type of design. Not only does it reduce waste, but it can save the environment from having to deal with the negative effects that come from having to rebuild homes time and time again due to various reasons.
Climate-resilient homes not only protect occupants from increasingly severe weather but also reduce long-term environmental impacts. Energy-efficient building envelopes, durable materials and passive design strategies help lower operational emissions, reduce resource consumption and improve community resilience as extreme weather events become more frequent.
Designing for Adaptability
Weather resilience is only one part of long-term housing performance. Homes should also adapt to changing family needs, mobility requirements, and new technologies.
Flexible design elements and sustainable practices can also aid in a home’s long-term performance and allow for adaptability to future family needs, mobility requirements, and emerging technologies. Features such as convertible rooms, adaptable entrances, wider doorways, main floor living, and more can all extend the life of a home, allowing it to remain relevant and comfortable for its occupants for decades to come.
Ultimately, building resilient homes involves making several practical decisions to create a safe, energy-efficient home that will serve the needs of its owners for decades to come. By choosing to design a home that takes into consideration the local environment, building a strong envelope, preparing for power outages, and selecting durable and easily repairable materials, homes in the Midwest can be built to withstand an uncertain climate.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — In the Cover Photo: A contemporary custom home surrounded by nature, showcasing resilient residential design with durable materials, energy-efficient construction and sustainable building practices suited to the Midwest’s changing climate. Cover Photo Credit: pvproductions
