Housing is a keystone solution

September 8, 2023

The Momo Focus is a biweekly roundup of news about the global transition to sustainable homebuilding.

Hi.

On Aug. 30, Hurricane Idalia blew into the Big Bend of Florida and wrecking-balled its way across the state.

In some ways, the damage wasn’t too bad. The storm hit a less-populated part of the state and, thankfully, no one died as a direct result of the storm.

But truth be told, you can’t look at any photo of smashed or flooded homes and say that the destruction was anything short of heartbreaking.

Of course, as a CNN article details, the story is one of heartbreak nested inside heartbreak: “Human-caused climate change is wreaking havoc on the Gulf Coast, which is already experiencing some of the fastest sea level rise in the world. As the ocean swallows shore, it makes the impacts of storm surge and flooding more dangerous for the communities in these low-lying areas.”

As these kinds of stories become more common, it’s easy to become numb. But there are solutions at hand, and the way we build homes is a vital one.

For example, we can frame homes in steel and anchor them to steel footings systems to make them more storm-resistant. And we can build them solar-ready to make their energy systems more resilient during grid outages.

If you want to see what renewables-powered resiliency looks like, check out this BBC article on Babcock Ranch, which weathered Hurricane Ian almost unscathed:

“The ranch, which opened in 2018 and is around five times the size of Manhattan Island, is like a picture-postcard, with neatly manicured lawns, vibrant green golf courses, forest trails and cycle paths. Residents zip around in solar-powered golf carts, kayak on the lakes, birdwatch, and congregate at the community pools. But the beautiful aesthetics have a dual purpose: the lakes double up as retaining ponds to protect houses from floods, streets are designed to absorb excess rainfall, and the community hall is reinforced as a storm shelter. A large 870-acre solar panel farm powers the entire development, as well as surrounding communities – making Babcock Ranch America’s first solar-powered town.”

It is difficult to get a utility company to understand renewable energy when their income depends on NOT understanding it

Canary Media reports that “a broad and unlikely coalition has united behind a proposal that would finally let community solar flourish in California. Utilities are trying to stop it.”

Sigh.