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As climate change accelerates, understanding the environmental risks to your home is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent and intense, many homeowners are unprepared for the long-term risks these events pose. Real estate platforms like Redfin and Zillow are starting to address this gap. Recently, a new tool announced by Zillow and First Street aims to help buyers and sellers screen for a home’s climate risk, adding to the growing list of resources designed to inform property owners about environmental risks. Other sites offer similar tools, for example Redfin offers a tool that shows climate risks by zip code, using data from the First Street Foundation, ClimateCheck and FEMA. These platforms simplify complex data into readable results that can give homeowners a quick overview of climate risks in their area. However, reducing detailed climate data to a single point often misses nuances that can be crucial to making informed decisions.
The good news is that many of the tools these platforms use are available directly to consumers, along with other, more comprehensive resources that provide deeper insights. Here’s how you can use these tools to better understand the climate risks your home faces and take steps to protect your property.
The growing need for climate risk awareness
Over the past decade, billions of dollars in damage have been caused by natural disasters, and the trend shows no signs of slowing. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US experienced 23 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in 2023 alone. While many homeowners are aware of the dangers associated with living in flood zones or in wildfire-prone areas, fewer understand how climate change may amplify these threats in ways that render traditional assumptions about risk obsolete.
With more tools available to assess these risks, homeowners can and should take steps to better understand them.
Tools to assess climate risks
Several online platforms provide valuable climate risk data that help homeowners assess the risks their homes face. Here are some that can guide you:
- Climate control: This tool provides detailed data on how climate change may affect specific properties. It breaks down risks such as extreme heat, drought, fire and flood, and gives an overall rating to each property. For example, homes in Alexandria, Virginia are rated for flood risk, heat risk, and other vulnerabilities, which can be helpful for current and potential homeowners in the area.
- US Climate Vulnerability Index: This resource is particularly useful for marginalized communities. It describes climate risks across different neighborhoods, considering environmental justice by highlighting areas of increased vulnerability due to systemic inequalities. If you live in an area already prone to flooding, heat waves, or industrial pollution, this tool can help you better understand your community’s specific risks.
- The US Climate Resilience Toolkit: For those looking for more practical planning, the US Climate Resilience Guide offers a “Steps to Resilience” guide that helps users assess their exposure to climate risks and develop action plans to mitigate them . This resource is valuable not only to homeowners, but also to community organizers and local governments looking to increase regional preparedness.
- Environmental Justice Atlas (EJAtlas): For those concerned about pollution and environmental justice, EJAtlas is an excellent resource for understanding the broader environmental risks that can affect your home. It highlights instances of pollution, deforestation and other risks on a regional scale, helping you assess whether there are wider environmental issues affecting your property.
Understanding your insurance and financial risks
One of the main considerations for homeowners is how climate risk affects their financial security, particularly in relation to property insurance. Many standard homeowner policies do not cover certain types of climate-related damage, such as flooding, leaving residents facing massive out-of-pocket costs after disasters strike. A 2022 report by the First Street Foundation found that approximately 14.6 million properties across the US face significant flood risk that is not reflected in current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps. This is mainly because the maps are out of date due to climate change – according to an interview its administrator gave to Smithsonian magazine. They were caused by river and atmospheric flooding, not historic rainfall and rapidly intensifying storms like Milton.
To protect your home, make sure your insurance coverage is up-to-date and accurately reflects the potential risks your property faces. In addition, consider additional coverage, such as flood or fire insurance, depending on your region.
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Taking action to protect your property
Knowing your risks is only the first step. Once you’ve assessed the threats your home faces, it’s essential to take concrete steps to mitigate them. Here are some recommendations:
- Elevate your home or critical systems: If you live in a flood-prone area, elevating your home or essential systems like HVAC units can reduce the likelihood of water damage.
- Invest in fire resistant landscaping: If your property is at risk for wildfires, consider a fire-resistant landscape – using plants with a high moisture content and creating protected space around your home.
- Improving energy efficiency: Climate change is not only bringing more extreme weather, but also prolonged heat waves. Installing energy-efficient windows, better insulation, and upgrading to a more efficient cooling system can help protect against the financial burden of extreme temperatures.
- Check local building codes: Many municipalities are updating building codes to account for new climate realities. Making sure any renovations or repairs you make comply with these codes can protect your home and lower your insurance premiums.
Planning for a sustainable future
No matter where you live, planning for climate risks is now an essential part of home ownership. Fortunately, a growing number of tools and resources can help you understand the threats your property faces and take steps to mitigate them. Platforms like ClimateCheck and the US Climate Resilience Guide provide vital knowledge for assessing risks, while insurance considerations and home improvements can help protect your investment.
While these tools provide an important start, climate risk planning must be an ongoing process. Keep abreast of new developments in your area, engage with local resilience initiatives, and consider working with community groups to develop a broader, more sustainable plan for your home and neighborhood. By taking these steps now, you can ensure that your home is not only protected, but also resilient in the face of an increasingly uncertain climate future.