“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” – Aldo Leopold
In a sense, your roof’s greatest purpose is to keep the environment out of your property. We needn’t explain all the reasons why you don’t want rain, snow, heat and cold to come in through the top of your home or place of business.
But just because you don’t want the environment inside your property doesn’t mean you harbor animosity toward it. Preserving the environment is important, lest we should one day pass down a barren husk of a planet to future generations.
If you would like to do your part for the environment, you can begin by choosing eco-friendly roofing materials. They won’t just halt (or at least decelerate) the depletion of natural resources. They also pose several additional benefits any property owner will welcome – even if they aren’t an environmentalist!
Lower Energy Costs
Reducing energy consumption goes hand in hand with reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Better yet, it saves you money just as effectively as upgrading your industrial insulation or grain elevator insulation.
In addition to being fully recyclable, metal roofing is reflective – hence its ability to reduce cooling costs by as much as 50 percent. A cool roof, which isn’t necessarily made of metal but which is designed to reflect heat and sunlight, saves around 7 to 15 percent on cooling costs.
If you would really like to minimize your energy costs, consider installing a solar roof. A residential solar roof can produce between 350 and 850 kilowatt hours each month, which represents a 90 percent reduction in electricity bills. Even farm roofing and grain elevator roofing can feature cost-saving photovoltaic panels!
Lower Maintenance
No property owner enjoys performing (or, alternatively, paying for) roof maintenance. An eco-friendly roof will spare you much of that headache. In addition to providing superior energy efficiency, a durable metal roof requires famously little maintenance. Sustainable clay and tile roofing are also low-maintenance, as are slate roofs (which are admittedly quite expensive upfront.)
If you would like truly low-maintenance roofing, consider a green roof. The plant species that form a green roof’s outermost layer are chosen for their hardiness, and need very infrequent care in order to remain healthy.
Increased Property Value
Americans are becoming more environmentally conscious, with the majority claiming they care more about the environment today than they did five years ago. Their preferences for consumer products reflect that trend – and so too does their preference for housing. Studies have shown that energy-efficient homes sell for 2 to 8 percent more on average.
If you retrofit your home or business with an eco-friendly roof, you can reasonably expect your property value to increase in turn. Just another reason why caring about the environment pays off!
Compliance With Local Building Codes
Multiple state governments have enacted legislation that requires buildings to meet certain standards for energy efficiency. For example, Colorado recently enacted the Energy Performance for Buildings statute which established sector-wide emission reduction targets of 20 percent by 2030. Colorado’s building performance standards will apply to all commercial, multi-family and public buildings 50,000 square feet and larger.
Your state government may not currently have plans to impose energy use standards on private property, but there is no telling what restrictions coming decades of legislation might bring. That’s why upgrading to an environmentally friendly roof now may save you the hassle of competing for roofing contractors in the near future!
Option to Use Traditional Materials
Metal isn’t the only traditional yet eco-friendly roofing material the market has to offer. While they are predominantly made out of asphalt (a petroleum-based product that isn’t renewable), shingles aren’t necessarily all that bad for the planet. Many shingle manufacturers are incorporating post-consumer materials such as old tires and plastic shopping bags into their products. GAF is leading the industry when it comes to designing recyclable shingles. So too is Owens Corning, which is also focusing on recycling old shingles into asphalt paving.
If you own or manage a commercial, agricultural or industrial property in the continental United States, then we welcome you to contact NIJAC today. Our expertise in insulation and metal roofing represents your most cost-effective solution to reducing your building’s energy usage