Climate change degrades buildings slowly but steadily

While natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires can destroy buildings in minutes, other factors exacerbated by climate change degrade buildings more slowly but still cause costly damage.

Rising heat and humidity and wild temperature swings can degrade building materials such as sealants, roofing shingles, concrete, and wood. Structures designed to standards based on historic weather data can be vulnerable when weather patterns change.

For example, a new science center in Scotland experienced a serious roof problem when sealant intended for cooler weather liquified in record temperatures that hit 90 degrees Fahrenheit. HVAC systems designed with decades-old assumptions on temperature, run harder, consume more energy, and break down faster. Even recently completed buildings can fail to anticipate current and future climate conditions.

Insurance usually doesn’t cover repairs to these types of climate-induced failures, placing a financial burden on owners. Experts recommend that owners conduct a thorough review of their portfolio to understand how material composition and operations are or are not ready for projected climate changes.