I grew up in a cold climate and so my primary reason for moving to Florida was for the weather. I love Florida weather. It’s always warm, sometimes exceptionally hot, our winters are mild and delicious and our summers are long and warm.
Sure we have humidity in summer and the occasional hurricane, but it can’t always be perfect! I specially bought and built a home in Florida because I love the weather so much. Even when it’s changing!
Weather patterns are changing all around the world. Words like global warming and climate change are on everybody’s lips. Will our beautiful Florida Sunshine State always be the sunshine state? Or are we going to see more rain, more thunder, more lightning and more fire? And more importantly, are we going to see sea levels rising which is a common phenomenon with global warming.
I asked myself all these questions when I built my Florida home. I was very aware of weather and change.
The truth is, nobody quite knows how much things are changing. Our weather patterns are still fairly predictable and Florida weather, in general, is still fantastic. But this is what you can perhaps expect from our weather in the future.
1. Increases in Temperature
Florida is getting hotter. In fact, in the last fifty years, temperatures have risen by around 2 degrees Fahrenheit, in the US southeast.
This may not seem much over fifty years but higher temperatures are striking during summer and Florida is looking at having an extraordinary warm summer in 2018. Florida is hot but now it’s getting hotter although to be honest, I’m not sure it’s too noticeable. Yet.
2. More Solar Energy
With an increased temperature and more sunshine we also get more solar power. This is a huge plus, it means we can rely less on generating electricity than ever before and try and go all out solar.
By 2020, Florida could be saving close to USD 50 million a year by using solar. Florida weather is also helping us to be more self-sufficient. I used a lot of solar in my house and my electricity bills are low. Florida weather makes it quite easy to use natural resources.
3. A few more Storms
It is predicted that hurricanes are going to get stronger with heavier rainfall and higher winds. Nobody knows this for sure but Category 4 and 5 storms may make landfall more often than not. Rainfall is also expected to be more sporadic which leads to drought-flood cycles and makes flooding a real possibility.
Does it sound all doom and gloom? It may have always been like this, no-one is really sure how much things are changing. And read on, because it isn’t all doom and gloom.
4. Water Energy
The one thing about Florida is that we should never have a water crisis. We have a lot of water and our rainwater is also harvested and used for power. One thing we won’t do in our sunshine state is run out of the water.
I have two rainwater tankers in my garden and nothing makes me feel better than collecting and using fresh rainwater. And you don’t have to do this, I do it because it’s easy!
5. Sea Breezes
These are always beautiful and we’ll always have them! Plus, wind energy is good! You may note I threw sea breezes in for fun and only because I love them!
6. Change!
It sounds silly but always expect change. This is about the world, not just Florida. Our Florida weather is changing but so is the way we are doing and managing things.
If you build a house in Florida, you’re more aware of the environment, more aware how and where to build and what materials to use. Expect change, look at the future and build for the future.
While weather patterns are changing, Florida, in particular, is changing too. We’re going greener, we’re going more energy efficient and we are working towards reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. Florida does have solutions which include new and green billing requirements, mostly to do with public structures and clean car standards.
Final Thoughts
I made a huge effort when building my Florida home to be as ‘green’ as possible. I am not going to lie and say I am totally green. I am not. It takes time and money and a huge effort to live a completely green life. But for me, it starts with all the small things – saving water, going solar, building uses as many natural resources as possible, and being smart.
The best thing to do when building a Florida home is to research and to talk. Talk to other people about how they deal with the heat, or the cold, or the rain. Ask them how it hampered their building projects, or how it helped. Ask people how they adapt to changing the weather. I must say I have not noticed a huge change in the weather. Summers are super hot, winters are beautifully mild. I love my beach walks and summer breezes and I love that I have a fabulous home to go to after my beach walk.
Is it too hot? Well, just put on the air conditioner?
Is it too cold? That never really happens.
Is it too windy? When there’s a hurricane, yes. But then, I’m prepared. As are all of Florida.
If you would like to chat about the weather, send me a message over here. I often feel that by living in Florida I know a lot more than a weather app. Our beautiful summer days often end with a quick thunderstorm and then the air is clean and fresh and fantastic. There is no better place to build, to retire, to have fun.