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LAST UPDATE | 28 Jan
LAST WEEK, STORM Éowyn brought Ireland to its knees. At its peak, over 750,000 homes were without power, and now, at the time of writing, hundreds of thousands of people remain in the dark.
Many households have also lost access to water, with treatment facilities overwhelmed by the impact of the storm. As extreme weather events like this are becoming more frequent and intense, the experience serves as a blunt reminder of how vulnerable our infrastructure actually is.
Climate science tells us that storms like Éowyn are not just a one-off. They’re a preview of what is to come. As global temperatures rise, extreme weather events are becoming more common, challenging not only the systems we have come to rely on, but also the way we live.
While roofs were being ripped off buildings and trees uprooted by winds here in Ireland, uncontainable wildfires tore through residential Los Angeles, and Florida was covered in snow, which for many of its residents, will be a first in their lifetime. Taking climate action is crucial to mitigating these changes, however last week has shown us the necessity to balance sustainability with resilience.
At our not-for-profit social enterprise Common Knowledge, we share the skills, knowledge and community that people need to lead truly sustainable lives. Where housing is accessible for you, maintainable by you and sustainable for our planet. I believe that learning practical skills and learning how our homes work is the key to unlocking the resilience so many of us felt was missing this past week.
Storm Éowyn has caused me to reflect on some of the ways we have been implementing climate action in recent years. It is easy to understand why so much recent climate policy focuses on electrification.
Homes with A-rated energy certifications are more efficient: they lose less heat, thus require less energy to stay warm, and use renewable energy sources. Heat pumps are a genius alternative to carbon-heavy oil or gas boilers, enormously reducing emissions. Much like our electric cars, trading fossil fuels for renewable energy.
But this shift has come with a blind spot. By replacing fires, gas stoves and oil boilers with systems that are entirely grid-dependent, we’re creating a new kind of vulnerability. When the grid goes down, as it did for three-quarter of a million homes last week, those that rely solely on electric systems are left completely inoperable. No heat. No way to cook. And for those relying on electric pumps, no access to water.
I’m not here to argue against the electric evolution. It is absolutely the right direction for the planet. What is clear, in these early stages of adoption, is that we need to pair it with backup systems that work in emergencies.
So, how do we balance sustainability with resilience? The good news is there are many ways to build a sustainable home while maintaining a little resilience along the way:
Backup heating systems
If you’re switching from oil or gas to a heat pump, consider also installing a solid fuel wood-burning stove, as a backup heating system.
Modern stoves are highly efficient and burn with a much lower carbon footprint than traditional open fires.
Renewable energy at home
If you’re installing solar panels, consider adding battery storage with an emergency socket. A 5kW battery can keep essential appliances, such as your fridge and freezer, running for up to 24 hours during a power outage. Small-scale wind turbines are another good option, particularly in rural areas with consistent wind.
While these systems won’t fully replace grid power, they can provide enough energy to keep essential systems operational. If these feel out of reach due to their high price points, a portable solar panel to charge your phone can ease some anxiety.
Water storage and filtration
Water outages are often an overlooked consequence of storms. And in a climate like Ireland’s, the obvious answer is in the sky.
A rainwater harvesting system can collect and store water for non-drinking uses, such as flushing toilets and washing dishes. For drinking water, a gravity-fed filtration system or portable filters can ensure you have safe, clean water, even when mains water is unavailable.
Cooking without electricity
Consider installing a gas hob rather than an electric hob in your home. Alternatively, ensure you have a small camping stove or portable gas cooker in storage. Keep in mind that butane gas freezes at -0.5 °C so it won’t work in very cold weather, while propane gas has a much lower freezing point of -42 °C. Also, make sure you have a stock of non-perishable food that can be prepared without much cooking.
Learning practical skills
One of the most empowering things you can do is learn practical skills to become more self-sufficient. Take every opportunity you can to learn how your home works and how you can better work with it. Learn from your neighbours, friends, grandparents and elders — many of whom are well-versed in resilient, conscious living.
At Common Knowledge, we teach skills like basic carpentry and plumbing and simple solar set ups. Knowing how to take care of your home and adapt during emergencies can make a huge difference when the pressure is on.
Storm Éowyn is our reminder that true sustainability is not just about reducing carbon emissions, it is also about ensuring our homes and communities can withstand the challenges of a changing climate. You can install the most energy-efficient systems in your home, but if they leave you entirely dependent on the grid, how sustainable for you are they really?
True sustainability is about resilience. It is about creating systems that work for you in all situations – whether the grid is up or down.
And it is about recognising that sometimes, the old ways of doing things still have a place in our modern lives. A wood-burning stove, a rainwater barrel, or even a camping stove might seem like a backward step, but they’re the peace of mind we’re going to need heading into an unpredictable future.
Harrison Gardner is the presenter of the RTÉ series Build Your Own Home and the Author of the Self Build guide Build Your Own He is also a co-founder of Common Knowledge, a non-profit organisation in the Burren that teaches practical skills for sustainable living. Upcoming courses here. Harrison’s new book, Build Your Own is available here. For Instagram, see _harrisongardner and Common_k_.
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What codology & nonsense…..the daily ‘anti President Trump’ message yet the huge landside victory in Iowa last Monday— comments CLOSED. This media bias/ blackout on the future President’s election bid will go the same way as the failed witch-hunt against him.
@Jimmy Wallace: yep…A HUGE LANDSIDE VICTORY……they were able to ‘call’ the win in 28 minutes the Trump vote was so overwhelming. But I can understand/ appreciate how you wouldn’t have been aware / heard of it…… that new was ‘muffled- cancelled’ by Irish media. Nowdays I go to ‘sky news’ or ( heaven forbid) the UK news outlets- BBC, ITV, CHANNEL4 all headlined/ opened with the Iowa results on Mon
@Ken Mc Carthy: At it early this morning Ken.. Whats your obsession with Trump. It beggars belief that people are still standing up for this creep.. Politics aside, a dirty old man who basically wants to Fk his own daughter.
‘I’ve said that if Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.’ ‘My daughter, Ivanka. She’s 6 feet tall, she’s got the best body.”Yeah, she’s really something, and what a beauty, that one. If I weren’t happily married and, ya know, her father…” Is it wrong to be more sexually attracted to your own daughter than your wife?’
Thats your guy .. Stay classy Ken..
@Brian: finally, an honest politican.
@Ken Mc Carthy:And just to contextualise your purported ‘HUGE LANDSLIDE VICTORY’, in 2020 Trump won the Iowa caucuses with 97 % of the vote… now thats a landslide.. 2024 ? 51% .. huge landslide? Nah..keep trying to sell your snake oil for dirty old Don..
@Ken Mc Carthy: 50% is not a “landslide”
@Ken Mc Carthy: Trump won the Iowa caucus with 7% of the registered Republican vote.
The rest didn’t bother to turn up.
And the US democratic party have just won a special election – the equivalent of our bye election – taking back a seat in the state government from Republicans.
In Florida.
The irony of publishing this article,on the importance of engagement , in the Journal where 90% of the articles have comments closed
@William Slevin: Well…..its not just the journal….RTE are masters at it too…. IF a story is reported on at all it has to have that media outlets ‘bias / slant’ on it. It is sinister ……… I say it all the time nowdays—- beware where your news is coming from
I am certainly no fan of Trump whatsoever but the Biden administration provided Israel with massive amounts of funding and ordinance including 2000 pound bombs that were used to flatten entire neighbourhoods in Gaza. The one issue that Democrat and Republican parties agree on is unconditional support for Israel.
@Harry Whelks: The Irish also have a strong reputation of supporting smaller entities from threatening bullies. 6 million Jews surrounded by 1000 million Muslims threatening to holocaust them.
@thomas molloy: Yes, the Irish support victims and oppose oppressors.
That is why we support the Palestinian, and oppose the Israel.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: Neither of them deserve support.
Thank you Bobby Mc Donagh for helping me by putting so eloquently how I feel about the world. We can’t turn away because to do that gives all the bad actors the opportunity to behave at will. We must use our voices no matter how small.
There has never been a better time to live on Planet earth
More people living above poverty line and with enough to eat than ever before. More people living in democratic countries (for all their flaws)
TV bombards us with negative stories, the internet especially social media isolates us into squabbling tribes.
Limit your TV & social media use, stay connected with your friends, connect with nature by walking with your phone left at home and be grateful for all you have staring with your health & living in one of the best countries on earth.
Finally, stop seeking perfection – it’s never going to happen. And stop seeking happiness; contentment is deeper & much longer lasting.
‘return of donald trump in power’.. unbelievable what a biased ‘journoz’.. no wonder they all have a dnc card…
@Bass Boss: I’ve just done a Donald Trump in the bog, ready for the day now.
A totally biased article and the irony of taking a swipe at other media outlets “posing as journalism.”
If everybody in the world were to focus on their ‘kittens ‘, there wouldn’t be all this conflict in the first place.
@IMHO: You ignore the psychopath among us.
I was looking forward to a balanced and insightful critique of world events; causes from all angles and ramifications. We received a rather black and white lecture akin to talentless hacks screenwriting the last Star Wars film. Waste of data and time in its immaturity. Naive. Should have declared an interest from the start.
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…
@Donna Fallon: On a serious note, in fairness the author makes a good point. I personally, have had to become desensitized and am extremely disillusioned. There is evidently a tipping point in that the human being can only tolerate so much both psychologically and physiologically.
Unfortunately, unless you disagree with this man’s point of view, you are labelled as someone peddling misinformation or reading articles from others posing as journalism. There can be no other point of view or debate, this man has to control the narrative, that is not democracy either. The narrative peddled by this man is only contributing to division & breakdown in society, most people see through Trump & Putin anyways, but also see through this guys agenda as well.
I take your point, but for self-preservation, I find it necessary to not follow your advice. If there were something I could do I would look, but all that I’m doing is causing myself pain. Thus the circle of pain and misery is expanding. I choose not to be under the power of those that are in a position to change things but don’t. I will not escalate division or climate change but I have to live my ‘each day’.
Without Fianna Fail, you’d all be in a field, eating rocks
@Barry Malone: jaysus Barry, I thought you were a blueshirt?
@brian o’leary: both, definitely not SF
@Barry Malone: ABSF:)
@William Slevin: *are you *Fianna Fáil * Fine Gael *whether *illegal *modern *Ireland…
At least you demonstrated the correct use of ‘their’ in that context I guess
@William Slevin: “want mass immigration to supplant us in this new modern plantation Ireland”. Sweet jesus, get a grip man.
@William Slevin: will ya go away out of that, Fianna Fail rescued the country by bringing in the IMF
@Barry Malone: I remember my Dad entering a small shop in the Midlands long ago, and there were people in there trying to scrape a few pennies together to buy some food. Poverty was endemic, and it was common for children to be put to bed early with no supper.
These same people had been vociferous about how great Dev was for the country.
In a then recent speech, Dev had said that we’d be all right if only we’d speak Irish.
The people were starving, and we’d be all right if only we’d speak Irish.
That’s Fianna Fail for you.
The clue is in the name.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: awesome party,without Bertie Ahern and Charlie Haughey we’d be poor
have your say