Do you need to replace the roof on your home or commercial building? You can use eco-friendly roofing materials that protect both your home and the environment. Now more than ever, it’s easy to save energy and be environmentally responsible when making your roofing choices.
According to the EPA, about $40 billion is spent annually in the US to air condition buildings – one sixth of all electricity generated in a year! ENERGY STAR® qualified roof products may reduce the amount of air conditioning needed in buildings and homes, and may reduce energy bills. ENERGY STAR® qualified shingles are designed to reflect sunlight and reduce unwanted attic heat. Traditionally, only white shingles have been considered “cool” by energy savings standards. Not anymore. Thanks to modern reflective technology these “cool” granules are covered with multiple layers of reflective material. That means thousands of mini-reflectors working to make you feel cooler. These shingles can even qualify for up to $1,500 back in energy rebates from the U.S. government in the form of tax credits.
Another type of eco-friendly roofing that breaks up the monotony of common roofs is green roofs. Green rooftops have begun to appeal to homeowners, businesses and even cities as an attractive way to promote environmentalism while solving the problems of conventional roofs. Green roofs supplement traditional vegetation without disrupting urban infrastructure – they take neglected space and make it useful.
Green roofs last longer than conventional roofs, reduce energy costs with natural insulation, create peaceful retreats for people and animals, and absorb storm water, potentially lessening the need for complex and expensive drainage systems. On a wider scale, green roofs improve air quality and help reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect, a condition in which city and suburban developments absorb and trap heat.
For more information on green roofing systems contact John Beal Roofing at 1-800-NEW-ROOF or on the web at JohnBealRoofing.com.