If going green at home is a life goal of yours, you may have never considered how your roof can help you get there. Whether it’s lowering your carbon footprint or just lowering your power bill, your roof can play a big part in helping you become more eco-friendly.
In this blog, we’ll cover the most common types of eco-friendly roofing and what they can do for you.
What Is Eco-Friendly Roofing?
Eco-friendly roofing is a term used for roofing materials that are created sustainably and provide some kind of environmental benefit. That means little to none of the materials or processes used in the creation of a type of roofing material can have a negative impact on the environment, including the use of fossil fuels and mined minerals.
Homeowners can also save money with an eco-friendly roof, namely, by keeping your roof and attic cooler. With a cooler attic and roof, your power consumption will drop without sacrificing your comfort in-home.
Types of Eco-Friendly Roofing
Slate or Clay Shingle Roofing
Slate or clay shingles are excellent, eco-friendly choices for your roof. Using them to keep the elements out of your home has been a thing since… well, forever. The way this type of roofing is layered allows for good airflow during the summer, while also allowing more heat to be retained during the winter months.
Not only that — they’re wildly durable and require little to no maintenance. The one downside is that slate or clay shingles are a bit more costly than other options on the market. But what you pay up-front, you’ll save in maintenance and repair fees.
If slate or clay shingles are something you’re interested in, make sure you get a roofing inspection done first. Slate and clay tiles are awfully heavy. It should be determined whether or not your current roof can bear the weight of the tiles before moving forward.
Wood Shakes/Shingles
A popular choice among eco-friendly homeowners and fans of the rustic aesthetic, wood shake shingles are sustainable and durable. Cedar shakes and wood shingles are resistant to wind damage and are one of nature’s best insulating materials.
However, wood does require a good bit of maintenance, as it can crack, rot, and grow mold. Wood shingles also have a shorter lifespan than some of the other types listed here, typically between 15 and 20 years.
On the other hand, cedar shakes can last up to 30 years, or about the same as your average asphalt shingles.
Green/Living Roof
According to this entry by the EPA:
“A green roof, or rooftop garden, is a vegetative layer grown on a rooftop. Green roofs provide shade, remove heat from the air, and reduce temperatures of the roof surface and surrounding air. Using green roofs in cities or other built environments with limited vegetation can moderate the heat island effect, particularly during the day. Green roof temperatures can be 30–40°F lower than those of conventional roofs and can reduce city-wide ambient temperatures by up to 5°F.”
Building and maintaining a living roof may take a lot more effort than others, but if you’re looking for the greenest of the green, the eco-est of the eco-friendly options, then a green roof may be right for you.
Rubber Roofing
For a happy medium in cost between asphalt shingles and metal roofing, look to rubber roofing shingles. They’re low maintenance, incredibly durable and can last up to 50 years.
Much like the other roofing types listed above, rubber roofing is made to withstand most of Mother Nature’s extremes. Should a repair be needed, they’re typically quick, easy and relatively cheap.
The coolest thing about rubber shingles is they’re made from recycled car tires, and are 100% recyclable at the end of their life.
“Cool Roof” Shingles
With increasing temperatures the world over, manufacturers have invested a lot of resources into figuring out how to make one of the most common roofing materials — the asphalt shingle — more capable of reflecting the sun’s rays.
Our partners at Owens Corning have some of the coolest roof shingles in the industry. They’re made with a special coating to reflect much more of the sun’s rays (i.e. heat) than regular asphalt shingles. These shingles not only help with your energy costs, but can also help extend the life of your roof.
What’s also awesome about Owens Corning, and manufacturers like them, is you never have to worry about what to do with your used roof. They have programs in place to take your used shingles and reuse them for asphalt pavement. Pretty…cool, huh? (See what we did there?)
Standing Seam Metal Roofing
Hands down, one of the best types of eco-friendly roofing available is metal roofing. Metal roofing is highly-recyclable and oftentimes, created from other recycled metals.
Metal roofing is durable, low maintenance and allows for long-term savings. It’s a popular option for homeowners looking for a roof with serious longevity and excellent quality. Metal roofing also helps reflect light, in turn, keeping your attic cooler, which means your home stays cooler throughout the year.
Even better, it’s a great option for people who are interested in adding solar panels to their roof.
Your Eco-Friendly Roof from Buildpro
If you’re considering a roofing system that will help you reduce your carbon footprint and help you save money, then consider getting an eco-friendly roof from Buildpro.
Our partnerships with Owens Corning, IKO, CertainTeed, Sheffield Metals and Mueller, Inc. give us the best possible shingle and metal roofing options in a variety of styles and colors to choose from.
We also have some of the best certifications in the business and guarantees to boot. So, if you’re ready to see what kind of eco-friendly roof Buildpro can build for you, contact us today for a no-obligation consultation.