Storm-related outages are a fact of life. In March 2018, a nor’easter left more than 2 million people on the East Coast without power. Hurricanes Irma and Florence put out the lights for millions in 2017 and 2018. New Hampshire residents still talk about the 2008 ice storm that left two-thirds of the state’s residents in the dark, some of them for weeks. How can builders help? Today, builders can create resilient homes that stand up to wind, rain and snow ― and maintain occupant comfort for days without power. Called passive survivability, it focuses on building homes that remain habitable if they lose power. Here are key features builders should consider when planning a passive survivability design: key features builders should consider when planning a passive survivability design: A superefficient envelope with good insulation and air sealingEnergy-efficient windows and patio doors that take advantage of passive solar gain and…
