Responsible homeowners want to know about environmentally friendly roofing options that can benefit them as well as the environment. Living under such a roof can give you the joy of feeling good about your environmentally-conscious lifestyle choice and preference.
Here are your top choices for environmentally friendly roofing options.
Metal Roofing
You might be feeling surprised with metal roofs in this list. After all, metal production is energy intensive. But it all depends on how you define environmentally friendly. There are numerous ways through which sophisticated materials can benefit the environment.
Metals fit the bill since they are easily recyclable and long lasting. Thus, you need to replace them less often, and when you do, you can always feel great about recycling them.
You can also insulate metal roofs so that they reflect heat. This will reduce your energy consumption and carbon footprint.
Clay Tiles
Are clay tiles sustainable? Since clay is so widely available and cheap, there are no concerns over any potential scarcity in the future.
Although expensive, clay tiles are long lasting and durable as well.
Wood Shakes and Shingles
Wood shakes and shingles are truly sustainable since you can always grow and cultivate trees for more wood. There is no question of ever running out of wood with sustainable reforestation practices.
Since wood is biodegradable and non-toxic, disposal is not a problem either.
However, one major caveat is that wood is not as durable as other materials on this list.
Green Roofs
If you were looking for green roofing materials then this is it. As the name implies, green roofs cultivate (pun intended) a truly natural look for your roof.
And this is not some new fad either. Green roofs have a proven history of use and are growing in popularity.
Green roofs have enjoyed widespread adoption and long use in Europe. Finally, the US is catching up. Chicago has overtaken Los Angeles and New York as the metropolis with the greenest roofs in America, proudly boasting over 4 million square feet of cultivated green rooftops.
You would be surprised to know how many benefits there are to green roofs. But then that is why they are so common in Europe.
The National Park Service from the US Department of the Interior enumerates the following green roof benefits.
Lower Costs
Initial investment is no doubt higher for green roofs. But you save a lot in the long term. Since green materials like plants and specialized roof soil are natural insulators, energy consumption goes down and so do your bills.
According to one University of Michigan study, a green roof spanning 2,000 yards can save a staggering $200,000 over 4 decades as compared to a conventional roof having the same size. Two thirds of cost savings were attributed to reduced energy costs.
Local Cooling
Heat islands in urban areas are a cause of concern. Urban areas are known to be substantially hotter than rural areas. This can be attributed to asphalt and concrete which reflect heat to increase ambient temperatures by as much as 7 degrees Fahrenheit.
Green roofs are a solution to this problem. With green rooftops, your neighborhood can be cool in every sense of the word.
Long Lasting and Durable
Believe it or not, green roofs actually last about twice as long as conventional roofs.
How? Green roofs have plenty of vegetation which protects the underlying roofing material from the ravages of the harsh elements including the scorching hot sun. Thus, green roofs take less damage and entail less frequent replacement.
You should team up with a forward thinking roofing service that can provide you with the best environmentally friendly roofing options.
Suave Construction has the technical prowess, know-how and the experience to install the environmentally friendly roof of your dreams.
