Australians are no stranger to severe climate events and the potentially devastating impact they can have on our homes. Here is our guide to savvy safeguards you can do around your property to help build a more resilient home.
As you’d imagine, extreme heat can put a strain on your home’s cooling systems and increase energy consumption. While roofing materials can make a small impact on reducing heat absorption (and ensuring it is in tip-top), enhancing insulation in your home is the real key to maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature. Not only can this reduce the need for excessive air conditioning (and the bills that come with that); but energy-efficient homes are more climate-friendly.
While it can be tempting to DIY insulation, it can wind up being more economical to have it professionally supplied and installed – plus you have the added bonus of being able to ensure you have chosen the optimal insulation option for your home and weather conditions.
Severe storms often bring strong winds and heavy rain, posing a threat to windows and doors. Investing in storm-resistant windows and doors that can withstand high winds and impact from debris is a must if you live in a high-risk area – and as an added bonus, most provide excellent noise reduction, fading protection and enhanced security.
While DIY installation is an option, engaging a professional can ensure your choice not only complies with Australian standards and is properly installed but that it is rated to cope with the types of weather events your home may encounter. For example, there are windows and glazes rated to withstand wind gusts in excess of 500 km/h – perfect for homes in cyclone regions.
For homes in areas prone to bushfires, landscaping plays a crucial role in creating a defensible space. Choose fire-resistant plants, create firebreaks, and maintain a safe distance between vegetation and your home.
The Australian Plants Society’s list of fire resistant or retardant plants include a range of trees, shrubs and ground cover, including:
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Floods can cause extensive damage to homes, so it’s crucial to take preventive measures. Elevating electrical systems, appliances, and important utilities above potential flood levels are all recommended, as are the following building considerations:
Conversely, avoid materials that will typically suffer severe or marked effects to immersion – for example, untreated timber, plywood, particleboard, wallpaper, mild steel, carpet, cork and linoleum.
If you are planning on building in a flood-prone area consult your local council for specific guidelines and detailed advice, or engage the services of a professional builder.
Harvesting rainwater by installing rainwater tanks offers numerous benefits beyond conserving water and reducing run-off-related soil erosion.
As well as saving serious coin, if you have your tank hooked up to take care of watering your garden or running your toilets and washing machine, they also reduce reliance on municipal water supplies – which can come in especially handy during an extreme weather event where water access is cut off.
When it comes to choosing the right tank, there are almost endless designs, sizes, and costs. While no one tank type or shape is better than another, the right choice depends on how much water capacity you need, the space it has to fit in, your available budget, and any accessibility issues.
Depending on where you live you may need to get council approval to install a rainwater tank. You will also need to use a licensed plumber to install a rainwater tank.
Power outages are common during extreme weather events. Installing a reliable emergency power backup system, such as a generator or solar-powered battery storage, to ensure continuous power supply for essential appliances and lighting. This is especially important in regions prone to storms or where power restoration may take an extended period.
If you’re keen to get set up for solar power, you’ll need to enlist a professional installer – while solar power is a form of electricity, a solar photovoltaic system operates differently to a standard grid electrical system, so you will need an electrician who knows everything about installing solar power.
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