What Should I Know About Sustainable Roofs?

Due to climate change and global warming, homeowners have become more sensitive to the environment and its impact on their homes and lives. Consequently, today's homeowners are more aware of the common phrases and buzzwords related to this eco-conscious movement than ever before.

One of these phrases that are popping up everywhere in the roofing industry is sustainable roofing. Not only is a sustainable roof more energy efficient than regular roofs, but it also has ability to produce clean energy and reduce your monthly utility bills significantly.

Several factors can come into play when it comes to sustainable roofing. While we cannot list everything in this article, we can certainly give you a good idea about what it takes for a roof to be considered sustainable. Let's get started:

What Makes a Sustainable Roof?

The good news is that environmentally conscious homeowners and businesses can use a variety of practices and materials to make their roofing systems more sustainable, eco-friendly, and energy efficient.

1. Invest in Proper Roof Insulation and Ventilation

By installing adequate roofing insulation in your home, you can also dramatically boost your home's air circulation and ventilation. This can help you save some significant money on your heating and cooling expenses every month. That's because sufficient insulation and ventilation are crucial to maintaining the right temperature in your home all year round. So, when you have a comfortable temperature inside your home naturally, you won't feel the need to use your HVAC system unnecessarily. This can significantly lower the amount of energy consumed by your house every month.

2. Get a Stormwater Catchment

Standing water on the roof is one of the most common issues homeowners must deal with in rainy months, and it is the root cause of numerous roofing issues like water leaks. However, getting rid of this roofing problem and many other related issues is not as hard as you think. All you must do is invest in high-quality gutters. Additionally, if you have a sloped or pitched roof, your home will remain largely free from pesky puddles. When it comes to sustainability, most homeowners have no idea that they could utilize this rainwater for irrigation purposes or even for their swimming pools. You can do this by investing in a high-quality catchment.

3. Choose Environmentally Friendly Roofing Materials

If you're looking for a strong, sustainable, and future-proof roofing option, a metal roof is a wonderful choice. Metal roofs not only come with an exceptionally long lifespan, but these roofs are also virtually maintenance-free. So, they can help you save a lot of money in the long run. What makes metal roofs a sustainable roofing option is that they are 100% recyclable. So, the discarded material can be re-circulated or reused at the end of the roofing lifespan instead of ending up in landfills.

The Bottomline:

While it's true that metal roofs are extremely durable and long-lasting, their high upfront cost can deter many homeowners from investing in them. Fortunately, metal roofs are not the only sustainable and energy-efficient roofing option on the market.

Thanks to the advancements in shingle manufacturing technology, today's asphalt shingles are also highly recyclable and come with extensive warranties. Recycled asphalt shingles are commonly utilized as sidewalk paving. So, if you invest in these shingles, you can have peace of mind knowing that you have made a sustainable and energy-efficient roofing choice that will minimize your impact on the environment.

For more information, contact Watkins Construction and Roofing at 251-299-8151 in Gulf Shores, Spanish Fort, Foley, Fairhope, Robertsdale, and Orange Beach, AL.