Improving Climate Resilience Through Adaptation
Climate change has the potential to cause the deterioration to or loss of our heritage assets, for example from flooding or coastal erosion. It can also impact occupants of these buildings through overheating or moisture accumulation. It is therefore imperative that we maximise climate resilience through adaptation to both existing and anticipated changes in our climate.
Considering climate resilience
Resilience to current and future climates has the potential to be enhanced or undermined by choices made to improve energy efficiency.
Where materials or techniques to improve energy efficiency or the resilience of the building are not appropriate this can lead to unintended consequences. Climate change hazards will impact materials and buildings differently and an understanding of the exposure and vulnerability of the asset is needed.
By understanding how the environment will change (for example, increased temperature or storm frequency/intensity) organisations and individuals can make decisions and plan future action to mitigate for or adapt to the impacts of climate change.
In addition to considering mitigation interventions through energy efficiency, effective adaptation interventions that may be implemented include:
- adapting rainwater goods and drainage systems
- introducing solar shading
- installing flood resilience or resistance measures to reduce or prevent water ingress
- integrating green and blue infrastructure, including planting and water management
- changing building use and occupancy patterns to account for seasonal climate changes (i.e. summer to winter)
What effect is climate change having on our buildings?
Increasing temperatures
Will have an impact on occupants via potential overheating, provide the right conditions for some mould, rot and pests and can cause the expansion and contraction of materials. However, it is also going to cause a reduction in freeze thaw conditions happening in some areas of England.
Learn more: Overheating in Historic Buildings
Learn more: Overheating tool - Good Homes Alliance
Learn more: Shading for housing: Design guide - Good Homes Alliance
Increasing humidity
Could result in a range of impacts. For example, the more rapid deterioration of timber frame buildings, increased dry rot, and condensation.
More sunshine and solar radiation
Will reduce the longevity of materials which are degraded by ultraviolet light such as lead and bituminous felt roof finishes, gutters and windows.
Will accelerate the degradation of painted finishes to timber elements such as windows and doors. Wall coverings and painted finishes will become increasingly prone to discolouration, fading, cracking, loss of strength and disintegration.
Increased precipitation and flooding
Will result in the fabric of buildings being subject to increased moisture levels. Where masonry remains saturated for longer periods this could increase physical and chemical stresses on the material, increasing decay and deterioration.
Existing gutters, downpipes and drains may struggle to cope with the predicted volumes and intensities of rainwater even if they are clean and free flowing, leading to greater risks of water penetration and damage to the structure and internal finishes. Where a building at risk of flooding is not made resilient or resistant this could prevent use of the building.
More storm events
The impact, intensity and frequency of storms has already substantially increased in the last few years. Its impact on the coast, to high up masonry, roofs, features and sustainable measures such as solar panels, as well as trees and planting will all be susceptible.
Definitions
Action that helps reduce carbon emissions, or to absorb or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere (carbon sequestration) with the primary function of limiting global warming to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Adjustment (natural or human led) in response to actual or anticipated changes to increase resilience. For example, measures taken to plan for and respond to the current and future climate.
The potential for a set of circumstances to cause an adverse impact, as the result of the interaction between climate-related hazards (including the likelihood of their occurrence), vulnerability and exposure.
The potential occurrence of a natural or human-induced physical event or trend that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, as well as damage and loss to property, infrastructure, livelihoods, service provision, ecosystems and environmental resources.
The consequence of realised risks on natural and human systems, where risks result from the interactions of climate-related hazards (including extreme weather and climate events), exposure, and vulnerability. Impacts may be referred to as consequences or outcomes, and can be adverse or beneficial.
The combination of multiple drivers and/or hazards that contributes to societal and/or environmental risk.
