 If your roof is due for a facelift, don’t just call the quickest, cheapest roof service. There are a lot of eco-friendly options out there, and a few that may just make you the talk of the neighborhood, in a good way.
Most American homes have roofs of asphalt shingles, but they are the worst kind of roof. Asphalt shingles don’t insulate well (which means you’ll pay for it in your monthly electricity bills), have a short lifespan, are made from petroleum (releasing pollutants during application), and are not recyclable. They are cheap, but come with a hefty externalized price on the environment.
Wood shingles are an option, but you must weigh the pros and cons. They are natural and have more than double the insulative value of asphalt. However, wood is expensive and, in order for it to pass fire codes, must be doused in fire-retardant chemicals, defeating the purpose of using something eco-friendly. Wood naturally swells and shrinks with the weather, which could pose a problem if you live in an extreme climate.
Metal roofs get a much higher environmental ranking than wood. Metal roofs come in many types, like copper, aluminum, and stainless steel. You can even get metal roof supplies that are recycled. They insulate very well and last twice as long as wood or asphalt. Metal can be expensive, though, and take a lot of energy to transport. But, if you’re looking for a green option, metal is a good bet, especially if it’s recycled.
Slate is another eco-friendly option, but there are some catches. If you get new slate you’ll be extracting from a non-renewable resource. However, you can find reclaimed and salvaged slate roofing from many companies, making it an extremely green material. It’s recyclable and durable, but can be expensive to install. If you can find reclaimed or salvaged slate, a slate roof is a great eco-friendly option. Clay tiles can also be a green option. Clay insulates well, but can be pricey. Many companies offer green tile products, making this a potential option for an eco-friendly roof.
Another option is to go with an Authentic Roof. Authentic Roof creates synthetic roofing slate made from recycled polymers and is also 100% recyclable, so it actually takes plastics and other polymers out of landfills and won’t end up in a landfill, either. There are no carcinogens or toxic chemicals in an Authentic Roof, so you could easily collect rainwater on one of these roofs. These synthetic slate roofs are lightweight and may be one of the best environmentally friendly roof options around. That is, unless you really want a green roof.
There are two forms of roofs that really do talk the talk and walk the walk, as far as being eco-friendly: solar shingles and literally green roofs. Solar shingles are solar panels that are the size of traditional shingles. Many consumers swear by these shingles, especially considering that they blend in and don’t look like you have a giant billboard on your roof stating you’re an environmentalist (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Solar shingles can even get you off the grid, saving you money and substantially reducing your carbon footprint. But, they are pricey and have to be supplemented with other non-solar shingles.
Green roofs are, well, roofs covered in green plants. So long as your roof has an angle greater than 30 degrees, you can have a green roof. There are endless benefits to a green roof, including growing fruits and vegetables, reducing heating and cooling needs for your home, increasing roof life span, reducing stormwater run-off, filtering pollutants and carbon dioxide out of the air, insulating your home, soundproofing your home, and increasing wildlife habitat. And, depending on how accessible your roof is, you could also add a bench or chairs to get the greatest view in the neighborhood.
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