This is a question facing communities across the globe, and one that Partners for Action, in collaboration with our partners, is seeking to address through innovative research on climate resilient retrofits. This research aims to understand how to adapt our built environment to withstand natural hazard events.
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Explore our database of multi-hazard, climate-resilient retrofits for residential buildings. Filter and search the database by hazard type, impact, building component, adaptation objective, and more!
Access guidebooks, publications, and other resources and communication materials, including webinars and infographics, developed by our research team to assist you with your climate resilient retrofit needs.
Learn more about the evolution of the Climate Resilient Retrofits research through our various projects, and gain insight into the innovative and applied resiliency work that our partners are currently engaged in.
In July and August alone, extreme weather events resulted in $7 billion in insured losses—making 2024 the costliest year in history (Insurance Bureau of Canada, 2024).
Much of Canada's building stock was designed to meet the codes and standards of historical baselines, and are incompatible with today's climate (IISD, 2021).
Extreme weather events in Canada amounted to a total of $18 billion in insured losses from 2010 to 2019 (Canadian Institute for Climate Choices, 2020)
Climate change is causing more frequent and more intense weather and hazard events such as flooding, wildfires and heatwaves, resulting in increased economic, social, and environmental impacts on Canadians. This has put pressure on property owners to consider implementing adaptation measures or face the risk of damages to their homes, and the ensuing need for repairs, upgrades, or relocation. Buildings that were once safe may now be vulnerable to multiple hazards occurring in the same region. Adapting existing structures to withstand the new challenges posed by a changing climate requires innovative solutions that go beyond conventional building codes and standards.
Resilient retrofit research is essential for creating adaptive, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions to protect buildings from the evolving risks of climate change. It equips homeowners, contractors, and policymakers with the knowledge to tackle multiple hazards simultaneously, reducing long-term risk and enhancing community resilience.
Without robust research, retrofitting efforts may be short-term or inadequate, leaving buildings vulnerable to future, more extreme conditions. Research on resilient retrofits ensures that buildings are adapted not only for current conditions but also for future climate impacts, creating long-term protection for homeowners and communities. As climate change drives the need for building upgrades, resilient retrofits can also be aligned with goals for energy efficiency and sustainability, reducing carbon footprints while enhancing protection.
Our research hopes to provide data and guidance on synergistic retrofits that enhance both resilience and energy efficiency, contributing to broader climate action goals. This research is expected to inform the development of updated building codes, design guidelines, and policies to ensure that new and existing buildings are designed to withstand future climate impacts. It offers data to governments and local authorities to design policies that incentivize resilient retrofits, making communities safer and more prepared for climate change impacts.
Most retrofitting strategies are designed for a single hazard, such as flood protection or fireproofing. However, many areas now face multiple hazards simultaneously. This introduces complexities. For instance, a retrofit that protects against flooding might not work for wildfire defence, or one that reduces extreme heat risks may increase risk for wildfire ignition.
As such, research that helps to develop multi-hazard solutions that balances and explores these risks can ensure that interventions are effective across different climate threats.
Climate Resilient Retrofits is a project of Partners for Action (P4A), a research initiative in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo, with founding funding from the Co-operators Group Ltd. and Farm Mutual Re. Climate Resilient Retrofits has been generously supported by our partners and funders at Halifax Regional Municipality, the National Research Council of Canada, and the Clean Foundation.
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