A professor at Duquesne University, Dr. David Saiia, has created a hand powered machine that cuts plastic bottles into strips that could be used to thatch a roof. Thatched roofs are the traditional roofing material in Ecuador and other tropical climates. The reeds can be locally produced and keep the home cool by allowing air to circulate. Due to more land being used to grow food, the grasses used for thatch are being pushed out and are getting increasingly harder to find.

Roof repair using steel and fiberglass are unsuitable as they let in more heat and are noisy when it rains.

Plastic Thatch Lasts Many Years

Dr. Saiia’s machine cuts the bottle into strips in seconds. Using 3 strips attached to bamboo or melting the ends together to create the length needed, they are then placed on top of a roof frame. Regular thatching lasts about 1 year, whereas the artificial thatch can last many years. The plastic thatch maintains the cooling advantage and allows natural light to come through into the home.

Dr. Saiia said he come up with the idea after witnessing the pile up of non-biodegradable waste in the middle of the South American Rainforest. He will continue to test the materials to ensure they are safe to use and not toxic. Each roof could consume 1200-1600 bottles and improve the local labor situation by creating jobs re-roofing houses.

For the next 6 weeks workers will be covering about 4 acres of rooftop on the Nashville Music City Center with a water proof layer, soil with water wicking materials and sedums. Plants that are already growing on coconut fiber mats will be rolled out after the soil is blown onto the roof.

The convention center could get added insulation from the green roof, but the main goal of the new roof is to prevent the urban water runoff that overloads the city’s sewer system.

Overburdened Sewage Systems

Nashville like many other cities have outdated sewer systems that weren’t designed to accommodate large amounts of storm water and rain runoff from buildings. The runoff overflows the system and raw sewage washes into the creeks and rivers.

Excess water from the roof will flow down to drains in low spots of the roof and then routed to a container that will be used for flushing toilets and irrigation for the convention center in dry months.

Clay Holds the Rain Water

The soil is 80 percent marble sized baked clay and 20 percent compost. The clay chunks absorb water and release moisture as needed. The roof will be covered in sedums with small colorful flowers.

Landscape Support Services of Murfreesboro is putting in the green roofing system and will also be maintaining the roof afterwards.

You can follow along with the construction and get updates at www.nashivillemusiccitycenter.com.

Boulder Community Hospital Foothills campus will be getting a new green roof over the cardiology building in East Boulder. The maternity ward will have full view of the native grasses set to open in December 2012.

The architect who came up with the idea, Nick Rehnberg said the new moms will have movie screen views of the Flatirons rock formation instead of gazing out onto an industrial looking roof.

The Green Roof Will Pay for Itself

The new Anderson Medical Center Cardiology building will have a 46,000 square foot roof. It is estimated to cost more than a traditional industrial roof but is expected to save $750,000 per year in cooling costs. The roof will pay for itself in approximately 7 years.

Ron Secrist, president of the Boulder Community Hospital Foundation is hoping for donations of 9 to 30 KW worth of solar panels for the new roof. In 2007 approximately $700,000 worth of panels were installed to generate about 90,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. After 10 years Namaste solar will give the panels to the hospital, in the meantime the hospital pays a set rate.

Rooftop photovoltaic panels are being mounted on bases made from recycled plastics. The plastic bases are made from both 100% recycled and mixes of virgin and recycled resins. There are only a few manufacturers in the United States making the bases or mounts.

Roof Contractors like the product because it is lightweight and if dropped will not damage the roofing membranes like the heavier and sharper metal bases do.

Gaining Popularity

Although relatively new on the market, plastic mounts are gaining popularity over the stainless steel and aluminum bases being used now.

“Our product is less expensive than aluminum and definitely less than stainless, but the real cost savings comes in speed of installation, prevention of damage to roof membranes and wiring, and improved grounding.” Said John Hudson of Renusol America.

Lighter Weight

Consumers like that the product is “green”, 100% recycled, easier and lighter to handle, and requires fewer parts and tools to assemble.

A Few Drawbacks

Since Underwriters Laboratories cannot be sure where the recycled materials came from, the tests are unable to certify that the plastic product meets the flammability and resistance to electrical ignition sources requirements.

Another issue with the plastic mounts is the warranty is usually not as long as the warranty on the solar panels.

Good for the Environment

As more technologies emerge, recycled plastic bases will be more cost effective and easier for the installer to mount as well as being good for the environment.

The roof is the face of your home! A bad roof can quickly downgrade the look and appeal of your home. Luckily, there are many new roof materials that can improve the look of your home while working towards saving the environment.

Even better is the money that will be saved by reducing energy consumption. Many homeowners are cashing in on the advantages of installing “green” products in their homes; but with so many new, energy-efficient products it can often be overwhelming to decide which product is best for your home.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Of all the recent trends in “going green”, many quality products are being made from sources we never would have guessed. There are many unusual products that can be recycled into a quality roof material. Things such as carpet, milk jugs, soda cans and tires can all be used in making new roof products.

• Milk jugs make for a great source of plastic that can be recycled into shingles. These shingles have a wood-like feel to them and look great. Recycled plastic shingles are modeled to look like cedar shingles, except they provide more resistance to weather elements and pests. These shingles are mold, insect, bacteria and moisture proof; proving to be one of the most maintenance-free products on the market today.
• Recycled carpet also produces a wood-like shingle. These shingles are light weight and easier to install. Shingles made from old carpet are more environmentally friendly than traditional asphalt shingles, as they do not give off toxic chemicals. Between reducing the large amount of space that is taken up in landfills by carpet, along with reusing it to produce an environmentally conscious product, makes recycled carpet shingles a great choice for homeowners.
• Roofing shingles made from recycled tires are great insulators and can drastically reduce the energy consumption of a home. These shingles are highly durable, providing great resistance to high winds and extreme weather elements. Recycled tire shingles are also one of the most fire resistant roof materials on the market.

Just think about all the trash you throw out each week; much of this trash is able to be recycled into many great products.  Not only does the house get a new roof, but the landfills will get a much needed break from overcrowding.