The average home and commercial building in the U.S. is made up of a dark roof material, often containing elements of tar or asphalt. While these types of roofs may not seem inherently flawed, innovations in the roofing industry have begun to shed light on some issues surrounding dark-colored rooftops.

Energy Efficiency

The sun is a vital component to the survival of our planet, but it’s rays can also be very damaging. Even in areas such as rooftops, the damaging rays of the sun can cause big problems for the durability of the materials, and the need for increased energy consumption within the home. In other words, not only are dark-colored roofs higher maintenance, they also are far less energy efficient than a newer technology; white roof systems.

As one of the most recent additions to the green roofing movement, white roof systems can reduce the heat absorption of roof materials. Less heat absorption means reduced need for traditional energy consumption, cutting summer cooling costs by 20 or more percent. Some industry experts have compared the use of a white roof system to that of replacing your traditional light bulbs to CFL bulbs, and are cited as an inexpensive way to reduce the energy consumption of a home.

Although having been around for decades, white roof systems have begun to gain popularity in recent  years as the shift from traditional energy to more environmentally friendly products has gained momentum.

You may have seen a commercial building, or even a progressive residential home, with solar panels and wondered what all the fuss is about. While solar roofs are just now gaining momentum in popularity, the benefits are bound to last a lifetime.

Lasting Effects

The most obvious benefit of having a solar roof is the environmental impact. By absorbing the sun’s rays, these roof systems generate power that can be used to service the home or building. The average home can generate enough power to sustain its electrical usage for 24 hours, thereby reducing the consumption of traditional energy. Reducing the consumption of traditional electricity saves the homeowner money,  but also decreases carbon emissions produced by a long-term reduction in the need for manufacturing of electricity.

Solar roofs may be more costly than traditional roof repair costs for materials, but they are also longer lasting. Many of these systems come with warranties well above the average 20 year found for other roof materials. Further, there are government rebate programs and tax deductions available for the installation of a solar roof system.

The construction and roofing industries are working hard to take part in the growing use of eco-friendly products, and many homeowners are also becoming more aware of their role. For many, this comes as a huge undertaking, as learning about the different product possibilities can often seem overwhelming. Luckily, there are a few green roof products available to help homeowners make their stamp towards their efforts of helping protect the environment.

Green Roofing Products

The term green roof is often associated with the idea of a rooftop garden or vegetative plant-based roof covering. While these are two easy ways to make your roof more environmentally friendly, the look and upkeep isn’t always conducive to all families. Other green roof products include:

Photovoltaic roof systems — also known as solar roof panels, these roof panels absorb energy from the sun; which is then turned into electricity that can be used to power the home. Helping to reduce the need for traditional energy consumption, these roof systems save the homeowner money and help reduce the amount of carbon emissions needed to generate electrical power.

White roof systems —  also known as cool roofs, the existing roof materials are coated by a protective white coating. By reflecting the suns heat rays, a white roof system reduces the energy consumption of a home by 30% or more.

Alternative tile roof systems — come in two main eco-friendly forms; metal roofs or tile roofs. Metal roofs are made mostly from recycled metal materials. With the ability reflect 35% of the sun’s heat rays, a metal roof is also more durable and longer lasting in most climates. A tile roof can be made from slate, stone or clay; all earth-bound materials. The eco-friendly materials these are made from are also more resistant to fire, pets and severe weather.

Environmental awareness and protection is a new trend among many industries, including roofing and construction. A recent survey looking into green home building materials named two green roof products among the top five for the year.

Topping The Charts

Listed as one of the top five green building materials for the upcoming year,  MBCI Eco-ficient roofing panels were chosen for their wide range of benefits. Described as a roofing panel that can “do it all”, these metal roofing panels offer better thermal performance that is designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce the need for added heating or cooling costs inside a home or building. These panels offer quick installation in commercial roofing projects, saving the roof contractor time and money. Further, these panels come with little need for maintenance and even carry a 40 or more year durability warranty.

Insulfoam HD Composite Roof Insulation is also making its  mark in the green roof industry by becoming a strong competitor among other foam roof products. This lightweight, closed-cell panel is one of the strongest and least expensive composite roof products available today. Insulfoam HS is compatible with a range of roofing membranes like EPDM (M-class rubber), TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), CSPE (chlorosulfonated polyethylene), built-up and modified bitumen membrane systems. Most importantly, the green roof benefits are displayed in the fact that it is 100% recyclable and contains no formaldehyde or HCFC’s.

The population growth has once again began to accelerate and, with it, comes additional challenges for the environment. More people means more crowding and, as a result, more demand for clean air. With the population of urban areas expected to double by 2030, the UN has proposed an approach to build healthier cities.

Planning For The Future

The need for cleaner urban environments to sustain living organisms is going to come to a head very soon. Known for toxic smog and lack of green space, urban areas are one of the unhealthiest environments on earth. With the expected leap in population growth predicted to occur over the next 15 to 20 years, measures are being taken to reduce pollution and improve air quality among some of the largest cities, worldwide.

One of the simplest solutions is the addition of more parks, sustaining more trees and plant life. New roof gardens are also in the words, which would boast gardens, plants and grasses along the rooftops. Green roof solutions are well known for their ability to filter pollution and soak up heat-trapping carbon dioxide, releasing clean oxygen back into the environment. Further, installing green roof systems along rooftops in urban areas can help create a cooling effect, reducing the need use of heating and cooling systems inside buildings.

The improvement in urban areas boasting green roof systems has been proven over time, as they have been a part of rural living for hundreds of years. If even a fraction of the earth’s major cities installed a handful of these systems, the effects for the living organisms that inhabit these areas can be monumental.