Aphorism illustrates why we should work to counter climate change

Ever hear the old aphorism, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? When it comes to natural disasters, this saying rings true: Every $1 spent mitigating potential hazards leads to an average of $4 in future benefits.

Even as we take action to stop climate change, no one person can prevent a superstorm or a flood from impacting his or her home. That’s why many architects and designers are planning ahead and anticipating the “new normal” of extreme weather due to climate change. And the best part – even if their buildings don’t experience a natural disaster, the structure and its inhabitants still reap the benefits in safety and efficiency.

Here are seven completed buildings that are leading the way on climate-forward architecture: adapting to weather extremes, reducing energy costs, and in some cases, fighting climate change while they’re at it.

Read The Climate Reality Project story - “Seven buildings prepared for – and fighting against – climate change.”

Epic blizzard strengthens climate change evidence

Another epic blizzard threatens 50 million people on the East Coast, with a bulls-eye on Washington DC. And leading climatologists again explain how human-induced climate change, especially warming-fueled ocean temperatures, are super-charging the amount of moisture in the atmosphere the storm will dump on us.

First, though, I think the name, Winter Storm Jonas, doesn’t do justice to this blizzard, especially since the Jonas brothers are a pretty harmless pop rock band. I’m suggesting the name, Superstorm (Edward) Snowed-In: Because it will turn DC upside down, bring the government to a standstill, and then flee the country.

Seriously, though, please take this superstorm seriously. As meteorologist Paul Douglas notes, “The Washington D.C. office of the National Weather Service issued a Blizzard Watch for the first time since 1986.” Besides upwards of two feet of snow and high winds over a 36-hour period, coastal regions can also expect some record storm surges.

Read the ClimateProgress story - “Why Big Blizzards In Winter Don’t Disprove Global Warming.”