Baby It’s Hot Outside: Addressing Extreme Heat in Existing Housing

They may not seem as catastrophic as an earthquake or tornado, but heat waves, periods of extended high temperatures, can be even more deadly. According to NOAA, they are the deadliest of all weather-related hazards, causing more fatalities over the past 30 years than any other natural disaster. With average temperatures predicted to increase, periods of extreme heat could become more frequent across the United States. Presenters will dive deep into ways contractors can make homes safer for occupants during extreme heat events. We’ll draw from construction guidance on extreme heat recently posted to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Solution Center, a free online resource for builders, contractors, designers, raters, code officials, and homeowners. This new topic is the most recent addition to the Solution Center’ disaster-resistance tool, which also provides construction guidance related to wildfires, floods, hurricanes, high winds, tornadoes, earthquakes, winter weather, and pests, in addition to general best practice guidance on over 250 topics aimed at making homes more energy-efficient, durable, comfortable, and healthy.