Is your home climate resilient?

The program has provided $69 million in grants to almost 19,000 homeowners across Canada since September.

With the Canada Greener Homes Loan, you could receive interest-free loans of up to $40,000, with a repayment term of 10 years. The loans are also available for major home improvements – make sure to review the eligibility criteria. In addition to government programs, your insurance company may offer policy savings if you climate-proof your home. Your local insurance provider can provide information about available incentives or offers.

Canadian weather risks vary geographically, and it’s always a good idea to regularly update your climate-change toolkit. The following are some resiliency measures to help safeguard you and your family against the elements.

Protect against wildfires

Rising temperatures coupled with geographic areas of dense, tinder-dry forests, can result in fast-moving firestorms capable of spraying hot embers over long distances. Take steps to fireproof homes from the outside and contain fire entry points.

• Replace wood roofs with metal, clay tiles or non-flammable composite shingles
• Attach fine mesh screens to vents to prevent embers from entering the home
• Clear gutters and roofs of debris and keep vegetation at least five feet from the house
• Make sure window frames are fire-resistant — vinyl frames will melt in extreme heat
• Retrofit exterior walls with fire-resistant stucco or synthetic siding

Rise above flooding

If your living space is susceptible to flooding, choose furniture with metal legs and keep valuables in plastic bins high off the floor. Explore flood insurance, even if you don’t live in a flood zone. Renters can get flood insurance, too. Check with your local government agencies for subsidies that may help finance flood prevention.

• Install flood alarms (water leak detection systems)
• Practice rain and flood control by covering window wells and shoring up foundations
• Consider opting for tile or concrete floors for your lower levels
• Install rain screens on exterior walls, because a little water can do a lot of damage

Power up for outages

Blizzards, hurricanes and wildfires are all reasons you might find yourself without power.

• Invest in a generator or other emergency back-up system
• Keep it simple by stocking up on flashlights, batteries and battery-operated radios and other devices
• Keep your phones, tablets and laptops charged with small, low-cost solar devices

Strap everything down

As one of the world’s principal natural disaster types, windstorms contribute to huge economic losses and human casualties.

• Consider hurricane-resistant shutters that are ready to be deployed in storms
• Add window safety film to reduce the damage caused by broken glass
• Secure or remove furniture and other items on decks and balconies
• Prevent roofs from lifting in severe winds with hurricane ties

Adapting to the changing weather may ultimately impact where we decide to live and how to build, our lifestyle choices and disaster-preparedness as we work to create a more climate-resilient Canada. The CIBC Climate Centre provides a range of home improvement resources and other adaptation measures to help you integrate climate action into your everyday life.

Add to your rainy-day fund

Setting up an emergency fund can give you peace of mind should a climate emergency take place. If your basement floods, roof leaks, or shingles need replacing, the money you’ve been setting aside could be your saving grace. Here are four tips to help you create and make the most out of your emergency fund:

• Add up your monthly expenses and multiply the total amount by three to six months to get your target emergency fund amount
• Make regular payments into the account you choose
• Consider keeping your emergency fund in a savings account or use a low-risk, open investment like a money market fund
• Remember, no amount is too small when adding to your emergency fund

When building a climate-resiliency plan, consult with your advisor to help you make informed financial decisions for a sustainable and secure future.