5 Reasons to Install a Green Roof

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The green movement has taken root. Americans are starting to appreciate the value and beauty of green design. The appreciation has spread to the most cherished American idea: the idea of home. People are stocking up on green products from cleaning supplies and household appliances to clothes and the family car. However, for many the home has been the last frontier when making the transition to the greener side of life. This is an issue that should be approached with consideration and proper planning.

Virtually every part of the home can be converted to a more eco-friendly design, but deciding where to spend your time and resources is the challenging part. A surefire way to kick off your green transformation is installing a green roof. Green roofing is an excellent way to not only save money on utilities and maintenance, but also contribute to the beautification and cleanliness of the environment. Here are five reasons why you should install a green roof.

1. 1. Sustainability:

Green roofs are designed to be extremely durable and long-lasting. There are some green roofing materials on the market that are covered by 50-year warranties, such as Ecoshake shingles. Other roofing options include metal roofing, adobe blocks, terracotta shingles and living roofs. All of these options offer the homeowner a product that will last 15 to over 100 years, depending on the type of green roofing material used. Green roofing options generally are installed with added layers of protection which lowers the maintenance and repair costs, while adding to the life of the roofing system.

1. 2. Energy Efficient:

Green roofs provide huge energy savings compared to standard asphalt roofing. The added insulation and protective layers used for installing green roofs actually double as protection against the elements. The additional layers trap internal heat from escaping the home during the winter months. In the summer, the extra layers and reflective properties of most green roofing materials prevent heat from entering the home. In urban areas, green roofs have been used to reduce the heat island by reducing the temperature directly above the roof.

1. 3. Recycling:

A lot of green roofing materials are byproducts or recycled materials. For example, metal roofing products are simply reused scrap metal. Ecoshake shingles are a composite of recycled vinyl siding and wood fibers. Green roofs also afford homeowners the chance to conserve water by installing a rain water retention system that traps excess storm water. Quality storm water retention systems can capture up to 70 percent of rain water. The stored water can then be filter and reused to wash cars, water the lawn, or in this case, the roof!

1. 4. Lower Pollution Levels:

By reusing discarded materials, fewer amounts of harmful non-biodegradable waste make it to local landfills. Pollution levels are reduced by using green roofs. Harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are absorbed by green roofs, preventing them from entering the environment. In recent years, manufacturing technology has vastly improved for producing green roofing materials, using less energy, nonrenewable resources and transportation costs; leading to a cleaner environment.

1. 5. Beauty:

Advancements in green roofing materials and design have lead to a plethora of roofing choices that offer style and pizzazz. If you are looking for something sleek and easy to maintain, then check out metal roofing. You can choose from aluminum, stainless steel, corrugated sheet metal and copper. If you feel like standing out a bit, perhaps you can try terracotta tiles or solar panels. If you really want to make a splash and also salute Mother Nature, try installing a living roof. You can install a basic sod roof or a full living roof with flowers, shrubs and small trees. Typically, you can find the latter installed on top of large commercial buildings, but new technologies and construction techniques have made it possible to install your very own eco-friendly green roof at home.

Green roofs offer more than just a chance to be the coolest house on the block. The added benefits from monetary savings, energy conservation and eco-friendly design make green roofs a great starting point for your overall green home makeover. Not only will your neighbors appreciate the added beauty of your new roof, but you can rest assured knowing that you have contributed to a better, cleaner, fresher and greener tomorrow.

Bio: Roofingwindows.net is an excellent information portal covering a host of home improvement topics. You can find tips, suggestions and other DIY information on topics such as roofing installation, green roofing, energy efficient windows, gutter cleaning and insulation how-to.

By: Braden Trevino

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