5 sustainable living practices that can help mitigate weather risks
Mitigating weather risks is becoming a greater concern in the mindset of many Australians as the world continues to warm up and weather becomes more frequent and intense.
While there are many ways to strategise how to mitigate weather risks, such as accessing NRMA Insurance's Help Nation, sustainable living practices have arisen as an effective means for multiple communities.
Sustainable living is where individuals endeavour to reduce their impact on the environment by altering their social behaviours and practices.
In relation to weather risks, this means creating housing, living practices, and personal strategies that can withstand the changing climate and any weather events that may arise.
Understanding weather risks and sustainable living
Climate change has impacted the world in many ways, but in Australia, one of its greatest effects is the increase in extreme weather events.
Australian residents across the country have faced more frequent weather events with more radical impacts in recent years.
This includes storms, floods, and bushfires, which devastate the landscape, numerous communities, and infrastructure.
For example, alerts to develop bushfire plans have been sent out to rural communities in South Australia due to the increased risk of hazardous days during summer.
This comes after bouts of rain, indicating that the Australian climate cannot be trusted to remain consistent and safe.
Fortunately, sustainable living has provided a means of reducing the impact of weather risks, no matter what form they come in.
By planning for better quality of life alongside reducing the impact of humans on the environment, communities can better understand the risks associated with extreme weather conditions and how to mitigate them.
1. Energy efficiency and renewable energy
Energy efficiency and renewable energy in community infrastructure are surprisingly effective in mitigating weather risks.
While ensuring that buildings are installed with energy-efficient technology and tools, or renewable energy sources like solar and wind, is beneficial for reduced carbon emissions, these practices have more notable effects on risk mitigation.
When households and businesses have renewable energy as their primary energy source, they can be relied upon even during times of disaster.
Weather events commonly disrupt power sources, creating mass blackouts that make it difficult for communities to remain safe during the event and recover efficiently afterwards.
Focusing on sustainable living and the renewable energy that comes with this lifestyle means accessing a more resilient energy supply that can keep foundational services working even during a bushfire or flood.
2. Community engagement and education
It is not uncommon for Australians to be unaware of both sustainable living and weather preparedness, and how these two key practices connect.
That is why it is crucial for communities to be encouraged to engage in these practices and become educated on how to prepare themselves and protect their communities from any weather conditions.
Engaging with community residents is one of the best ways to impart education on weather risks and encourage continued engagement.
This can come from community initiatives, workshops, and local sustainability programs.
For example, the benefits of sustainable living can be imparted through programs that showcase the benefits of sustainable living and advises the community on how they can begin to implement them into their lives.
Alternatively, workshops can walk communities through what to do when a severe weather event occurs, including how to prepare their homes, emergency kits, and evacuation routes.
NRMA Insurance's Help Nation is an example of a national initiative that is open to the public and dedicated to educating them about weather risks.
This includes guides to creating evacuation plans, home preparation checklists, and how to ensure homes and belongings are covered by insurance in the case of a bushfire or water damage.
By directly engaging with the community, education initiatives like Help Nation can help Australians understand the importance of preparation and how to best mitigate weather risks.
3. Water conservation and management
The hot climate of Australia lends itself to prolonged periods of dryness across the country. Many communities have grown accustomed to needing to conserve water during the drier months.
Still, climate change has brought this need to more communities that are unprepared and uneducated about the need to save water.
Furthermore, the longer periods of dryness have left more experienced communities struggling to manage water rationing for key areas like individual well-being, sanitation, or farming.
Sustainable living acknowledges the need for water conservation and management, incorporating it into its practices in various ways:
- Storing rainwater in individual households and businesses for a reliable source during reduced water accessibility.
- Creating more efficient irrigation systems, such as a spray-irrigation system, to prevent wastage of water in grounds that require it, like farms or greenhouses.
- Water-saving appliances to prevent water wastage and taxation of limited water resources.
- Recycling greywater for usage in toilets or gardens to prevent wastage of freshwater sources.
- Using water-efficient showerheads, taps, and toilets for wastage reduction.
By conserving water during times of drought or water scarcity through sustainable living, communities can continue to thrive and mitigate the severe risks that come with these events.
When using the above methods, communities are less likely to face grown food shortages, livestock reduction, dehydration and other water scarcity risks.
4. Sustainable landscaping and gardening
Surprisingly, landscaping and gardening practices that follow sustainable living effectively mitigate several risks associated with extreme weather events.
Sustainable landscaping focuses on working with the natural environment and its cycles, meaning that these grounds will be more in tune with changes in weather patterns than others.
This is beneficial for reducing carbon footprints and providing a renewable source of food for many, but it can also protect homes from bushfires, floods, and storms alike.
Some notable ways that sustainability in landscaping can mitigate weather risks are:
- Minimisation of hard surfaces to prevent flooding or stormwater runoff from damaging property.
- Planting native greenery requires less water, reducing overall water usage.
- Choosing less flammable plants, maintaining gaps in plantings, keeping greenery away from windows, and being sure to cull long grass regularly can prevent the risks of bushfires.
- Maintaining the growth of key plants, such as trees, can keep landscapes green and more resilient against weather events. It can also encourage faster renewal after these events, especially after bushfires.
All sustainable practices should be tailored to the local environment and consider what specific weather risks are required to be mitigated.
This way, communities can best prepare themselves and their homes for risk mitigation.
5. Building and retrofitting for resilience
Perhaps one of the most crucial elements of sustainable living in mitigating weather risks is the restructuring of households for greater resilience.
Investing in sustainable building materials, design features, and insulation can not only reduce a household's impact on the environment but can also ensure a building is equipped to adapt to the ever-changing Australian climate.
In the case of bushfires, resilience can be ensured by building or retrofitting homes with:
- Enough space between the building and potential fire hazards, such as dry bushland.
- Flat level ground at the base of a hill as fire increases in intensity up a slope and can be enhanced when funnelled into a saddle due to wind.
- Emergency exits and clear escape routes.
- Suitable turnaround areas for fire emergency services in the case of a fire.
- Simple roofing designs to prevent the build-up of embers or debris that will start fires on properties.
- Non-combustible gutter guards that can regularly be cleared out from debris.
- Fire-resistant building materials, such as double brick walls or window glazing.
- Bushfire shutters on windows and doors.
- Non-flammable insulation.
For instances of flooding and storms, which bring water damage and strong windows, consider the following design elements:
- Avoiding building on areas vulnerable to (flash) flooding, such as near bodies of water, high groundwater elevation levels, impermeable soils and surfaces, or regional areas facing increases in precipitation.
- Placing all foundational equipment, power sources, and resources above potential water levels in high and dry spaces.
- Having back-up generators or power sources in the case of blackouts.
- Reinforcing the building against rapidly moving debris that can come with flooding.
- Installing anchoring systems to key foundational areas to prevent damage.
- Dry site features and evacuation routes.
- Replacing deteriorated or damaged structures or pavements to prevent storm or flood water from getting below ground and damaging building foundations.
It is possible to mitigate potential weather risks by taking a proactive approach to sustainable living and its associated practices.
By incorporating the five key practices outlined above and any other steps considered crucial for the local community, Australians can protect their homes and livelihoods against floods, bushfires, and storms.
