Roof Green: 3 Practices To Implement When Replacing Your Roof
Although solar panels are a great way to reduce environmental footprints and save on monthly energy costs, there are other green building practices that you can incorporate into your upcoming roofing project to be sustainable. Here are three ways you can use sustainable products, conserve natural resources and build a high-quality, energy-saving roof:
1. Only Use Eco-Friendly Roofing Materials.
From the production of materials to the distribution of these materials, the process that goes into getting a new roof over your head can dramatically affect the environment. The process involves numerous natural resources. Reduce what it is used and protect the environment by utilizing eco-friendly supplies, including plywood, shingles, composition roofing and more.
2. Be Friendly to the Environment During
There is a lot of debris that comes off of your roof when it is being replaced. This results in a lot of excess garbage. Don't let this debris harm the environment. Make sure that the roofing company you choose to work with will recycle old materials, such as shingles, so that the environmental impact is reduced. If they won't, see if there is something that you can do on your own. Recycled roofing materials can be used for a number of things, with the most popular being road pavement.
3. Opt for Cool Roof Over Other Roofing Options.
When you are replacing your roof, one of the things that you need to think about is energy savings. Your roof can either absorb or reflect the sun's heat, depending on the type of material used for your new roof. A dark roof will allow the temperature of your roof to climb, which shortens its lifespan, and will also increase the temperature inside the home, which cranks up your utility bills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a cool roof is able to reflect the sun's heat so that the roof and the interior of your home stays cooler. As a result, you save money on your energy bills (possibly as much as 50 cents per square foot annually), while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
If the environment is important to you, make sure to show that when you have your new roof installed. You have a variety of options at your disposal when it comes to protecting the environment and going green. If you're just recognizing the importance of going green, a good place to start is with an eco-friendly roof.