NAVIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE: HABITABLE LIVING AND ITS INSIGHTS FOR HOMEOWNERS
As extreme weather events become more frequent and rising temperatures bring new challenges, homeowners and new buyers are facing a rapidly changing landscape. In response, award-winning editor and entrepreneur Ann Marie Gardner (former editor of Tempest News) created Habitable Living. The website, newsletter, and climate assessment tool have emerged as vital resources, offering homeowners helpful information and strategies to adapt to the evolving demands of a changing climate.
CLIMATE-PROOF DULUTH
In 2019, Gardner read an article about climate adaptation in the New York Times, which featured Harvard professor Jesse Keenan. When asked about the most climate-friendly places to live in the United States, Dr. Keenan suggested Duluth and Buffalo. (In fact, Keenan was contracted by the University of Minnesota Duluth to help create the slogan, Climate-Proof Duluth.)
“This article was a sensation for me, and I never forgot it,” said Gardner. “Working in the climate space for so long, I could see that extreme weather was happening more and more around the world, but people were still buying homes in these impacted areas. It inspired me to make environmental data more interesting to consumers. The data is there, we can all look and see where we live or want to live and what the relative risk is, but it’s not always a priority for new home buyers, and it isn’t always straightforward or digestible. So my goal in starting Habitable was to make the data extremely visual and accessible without checking multiple sites or sources.”
A preview of the free Risk Report provided by Habitable.
YOUR HOME'S CLIMATE REPORT AND MORE
Habitable helps homeowners make informed decisions about where to live in a changing climate. Should you buy the new build near the beach or the historic fixer-upper? Enter the address of the home you’d like more data about and receive an instant snapshot of the home’s risk of flood, drought, heat, fire, and even mosquitos (coming soon: earthquake risk and ticks!)
Each report provides a tangible understanding of how climate change could specifically affect your home and community. For families and individuals moving to a new state, this data can help inform the home-buying process, while the newsletter provides a host of tips and strategies for living with a growing risk of extreme weather and environmental hazards.
Complementing the website's rich content and climate assessment tool is its newsletter. The weekly email is a curated digest of the latest climate research and trends, real-estate insights, and a trove of homes, from celebrity dwellings to historic gems and everything in between. Interviews with climate scientists, flood researchers, homeowners living in extreme conditions, and more make this weekly newsletter one to look forward to.
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES: WEATHERING THE STORM
Habitable features expert interviews and guidance for fortifying homes against the impacts of extreme weather and managing risk to property and public safety. Homeowners can learn about energy-efficient upgrades, flood and drought-resistant design principles, and landscaping methods that contribute to both resilience and sustainability.
“Focusing on individual readiness means taking steps to ensure that your home and the people living in it are better prepared for the impact of climate change,” Gardner explained. “That may include adding natural disaster detection sensors to your home, like installing a weather station at your home to better monitor conditions at the neighborhood level. Maybe it’s integrating your weather data with smart home technology to help conserve water and energy. Perhaps it’s adding an air purifier to your home or updating your landscape to be more fire-proof. It really just depends on the situation, but the point is that homeowners really need a complete picture of what their situation actually is.”
STAYING INFORMED AND ENTERTAINED
As climate change continues to reshape our lives, Habitable stands as an uncomplicated and entertaining companion, guiding homeowners and real estate enthusiasts toward resilient, adaptable, and sustainable living spaces.
A member of our Official Tempest Owner's Group on Facebook shared this ingenious use of a Shutterfly luggage tag, repurposed with QR codes to share their Tempest dashboard and CoCoRaHS rain data with neighbors! This new group complements our existing community forum and provides an alternative for those who prefer Facebook. While it is not intended to replace our customer support help center, we encourage users to join, ask questions, offer advice, post weather-related photos, and get useful tips from other Tempest owners.
HURRICANE IDALIA: FROM FORMATION TO IMPACT BY TEMPEST
One of nature's most powerful and destructive forces, hurricanes are capable of causing widespread devastation and loss of life. While these storms are infamously unpredictable, understanding their lifecycle can help us better prepare for and respond to these natural disasters. In this article, Tempest meteorologists break down Hurricane Idalia's path from formation to a Category 4 hurricane.
A BURNING MAN TO REMEMBER
The Burning Man festival touts itself as a "Temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance.” That self-reliance was tested this year, with more than 70,000 attendees told to shelter in place over the weekend after heavy rainfall soaked the normally arid Nevada desert playa where the festival takes place.
THE WINDS THAT DOOMED LAHAINA
Last month, deadly and devastating wildfires tore through the Hawaiian city of Lahaina, killing 115 and leaving hundreds still reported missing. Strong winds from the West Maui Mountains rapidly fueled the flames and sparked new fires that decimated buildings, destroyed landscapes, and engulfed vehicles left abandoned on roadways. A combination of drought and dry, non-native grasses combined with the extreme winds created an unprecedented wildfire for that region.
COOLING CLOTHES FOR A WARMING FUTURE
As temperatures continue to reach new extremes worldwide, some tech companies are fighting back with clothing innovation that’s “cool” in more ways than one. Demand is rising for textiles that will keep people cool, and solutions are popping up from all parts of the globe- like wearable tech that mimics air conditioning in the United States or highly reflective fabrics from China.
WHAT TO PLANT IN YOUR GARDEN IN SEPTEMBER
Make the most of your cool season garden with flowers and veggies that will thrive in the fall. You can still enjoy beauty and abundance from your garden long after the spring and summer seasons have moved on in your area. Knowing what types of plants will do best during mild temperatures and cooler nights is a great way to start planning for your fall harvest.