Building Resilience – Part 1: Why Resilience Matters

A video conversation between Fine Homebuilding's Brian Pontolilo and builder Josh Salinger of Birdsmouth Design-Build looks at why "resilience" has become a bigger topic in home design. The idea covers more than surviving a single disaster like a wildfire or earthquake. It also includes staying comfortable and safe during heat waves, cold snaps, and power outages, keeping indoor air healthy during wildfire smoke, and keeping energy bills manageable as costs keep rising.

Salinger points to a mix of quality design, good materials, and correct installation as the common thread. Choices made for one reason often pay off in several others. Exterior insulation, for example, can be chosen for fire resistance but also cuts drafts, prevents moisture problems in walls, improves comfort, and reduces outside noise. He also describes a "house as thermal battery" idea: a well-insulated, well-sealed home holds a comfortable temperature much longer during a power outage, similar to a cooler keeping drinks cold. Some passive-house-standard homes are designed so indoor temperatures never drop low enough to freeze pipes even if the power is out for an extended time, which protects against costly damage.

Homeowners in older or leaky homes aren't left out. Salinger notes that many of these same strategies, like adding insulation or tightening air leaks, can be retrofitted into an existing house. For anyone wanting to look deeper into standards or products aimed at resilience, he mentions the Fortified Standard, an insurance-industry-backed set of building guidelines, as a reasonable starting point, alongside resources from Building Science Corporation and similar building-science educators.