Day 2-2: Powering the Present: Climate-Resilient Housing Solutions for Today and Tomorrow | Julie Shiyou-Woodard

As the frequency and intensity of climate-related events continue to rise, it has become exceedingly crucial to adapt our housing infrastructure to withstand these challenges. Hence, shifting toward climate-resilient housing is an imperative step in our pursuit of sustainable and resilient communities. This transformation not only ensures the safety and well-being of homeowners but also contributes to overall environmental preservation. 

Julie Shiyou-Woodard is the President and CEO of Smart Home America, a nonprofit based in Alabama that works to promote climate-resilient housing. Through programs that provide grants, incentives, and code changes, Smart Home America has helped reinforce over 50,000 existing and new homes in Alabama to better withstand disasters. 

Listen in as Julie provides insights into successfully “flipping the market” to prioritize disaster-resistant housing. She also discusses how to build structures that can withstand severe weather events, the importance of incentives to encourage homeowners to invest in mitigation, and the various policies and partners needed to make climate-resilient building the norm. The potential to apply these lessons to wildfire resilience was also explored. Overall, the talk provided insights into successfully “flipping the market” to prioritize disaster-resistant housing.