How Sustainable Roofing Can Help Decrease Your Energy Costs

The cost of everything seems to be skyrocketing these days. Gas, food, consumer goods and energy costs are reaching higher levels every day. Because of this, people seeking a new roofing system are focusing on choosing materials and solutions that can cut their energy costs. By choosing sustainable, energy efficient roofing materials, you’ll stay cooler on hot days, and warmer on those cool days.

What Is Sustainable Roofing?

There are a few different ways that a roof can be sustainable. One of these is in the choice of materials. Certain materials that are sustainable or abundant earth materials can be chosen for shingles and other components, rather than those based on fossil fuels.

Another way that roofing can be sustainable is in the manufacturing process itself. Some factories have been designed or converted to have a reduced impact on the environment, and a smaller carbon footprint. By favoring products made in a sustainable way, the hope is that the rising temperature of our planet can be curbed, and the most severe impacts of climate change can be avoided.

Finally, the type of roofing system that a property owner chooses can be sustainable in that it is highly energy efficient. This means that it reduces the temperature rise inside the structure on hot days, and cuts down on warm air loss during cold days.

One thing’s for sure. The right roofing choice may mean a substantial savings on electricity, gas and other HVAC expenses. Give Horizon a call to go through all your options for choosing a new roof, or making smaller changes to your existing roof and start saving today.

Keeping Cool By Reflecting Sunlight

One easy way to reduce energy costs by choosing sustainable roofing is to look for materials that reflect the hot rays of the sun. This is called a “cool roof.” More and more property owners are seeking cool roof materials as a way to live sustainably and reduce their energy costs.

Cool roofs aren’t just beneficial to you as a property owner, they benefit the entire area by reducing the urban heat island effect, where man-made materials retain solar heat at night, making the entire area hotter. If you’ve ever spent time on the Las Vegas Strip after a triple digit day, you know what that heat island feels like!

If you are choosing shingles, brighter colors can achieve the highest level of reflectivity. In some cases, they can reflect back 90 percent of solar energy. That doesn’t mean you need a white roof, however. Many other colors are available that still have a great level of sun reflection. This is achieved through the use of special pigments that can reject light in the near infrared segment of the light spectrum.

In higher pitched roof situations, cool roofing material is available in a wide range of colors for asphalt, wood or metal shingles. Clay has been chosen as a cool roof material for centuries. Polymer coatings can also be applied sometimes which help boost the reflection index of the roofing materials.

In low sloped roof situations, single ply, built up, modified bitumen and spray polyurethane foam roofs often come in colors that are highly reflective and can be a great choice.

Remember that algae and moss growth along with other debris can reduce the reflectivity of your roof, and reduce the effectiveness of your cool roofing system. Make sure to periodically have your roof inspected by a qualified roofer like Horizon. We can apply special solutions that inhibit growth of things like algae and mold for years to come.

The Boral Roofing Cool Roof System: An Innovative Solution

One of the more contemporary options is called the Boral Cool Roof System. This system uses some innovative techniques that elevate shingles to make sure that air flows through. By reducing nailing penetration, they reduce or eliminate nails.

Boral’s system allows for a high level of air flow. Cooler air travels up through the air spaces, displacing the hot, stagnant air. This highly efficient approach reduces heat build up on top of the roof. In independent tests, the Boral Roof could lead to a 22% savings on yearly heating and cooling costs compared to a more traditional asphalt shingle system.

Other Ways To Make Your Roof Sustainable

Reflection and airflow are just 2 ways that a roof can be sustainable and energy efficient. We call a roof a “roofing system” because it is made up of several different components, and each one of them carries with it the potential to save you money in energy costs.

For instance, insulating attic spaces with fiberglass or mineral wool can help keep the temperature from getting too hot when it’s sunny, and prevent warm air from escaping during the winter.

Spray polyurethane foam is an “Energy Star” approved material. It’s more effective than mineral wool, and is impervious to moisture absorption, meaning it will never harbor mold or mildew. Others opt for rigid foam insulation boards.

Is It Time For A New Roof?

Deciding what time is right to replace your roof is a difficult decision. Many people find themselves in a situation where their existing roof is in good repair, and has several years of life left in it.

Others may be reaching the end of a roof’s typical lifespan, or are deciding between the expense of major repairs versus just getting a new roof and installing a cool roof at that point.

Sometimes, there’s a middle ground. Different types of roof coatings can make a big impact on sustainability and energy savings. This may allow some property owners to get the full lifespan out of their current roof, which still reduces their monthly energy costs.

Which approach is right for you? Schedule a roofing consultation with Horizon Roofing. We can inspect your current roof and break down the costs and benefits of replacement, and how it might impact your energy costs.

Links

https://www.thespruce.com/sustainable-roofing-materials-1821784

https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/cool-roofs

https://www.roofcalc.com/best-roof-insulation-options/

https://westlakeroyalroofing.com/about-us/sustainability/

Horizon Roofing – serving the Orange County, CA area – is your reliable local roofing contractors. We specialize in residential roofing and commercial roofing and have been in the industry for over a decade. We have excellent reviews and look forward to serving your need.

Call us on(714) 328-1967, email us at horizonroofingcompany@gmail.com, or contact us here today.

Roofing Materials: Why Concrete and Clay Roof Tiles are Sustainable

Traditionally, home and property owners searching for the best roofing choices were mainly concerned with finding materials for their value, durability and energy efficiency. In the last several years a new criteria has emerged as something roofing customers are looking for: sustainable materials.

Many of the roofing products available are sustainable to some extent. Asphalt shingles are largely recyclable when they reach the end of the lifespan. However, two types of roofing really shine as the most sustainable materials: concrete and clay roof tiles.

What is sustainability?

Materials that can be made with renewable resources are said to be sustainable. Manufacturing them doesn’t disturb the delicate balance of earth’s ecosystems.

In the past, people didn’t know or care very much about sustainability, but in the last several decades, as people have begun to understand how fragile our blue planet is, they’ve taken steps to seek out materials that are more “green.”

What’s amazing is that some of the oldest roofing materials used were actually sustainable! Clay, for instance, has been a popular roofing choice for centuries and is made from renewable, earth friendly resources.

Clay roofing tiles

Clay deposits are found in many areas of the country. It’s formed by the weathering of rocks. It’s not a useful medium for growing plants, but it does lend itself to making things like cups, bowls, pottery and roofing tiles! Just think of all the clay artifacts seen in museums that have lasted thousands of years.

To cut down on costs and energy use, the factories that make clay roofs are often located in clay rich areas. The clay is mixed with other materials, then fired at a high temperature in a kiln to make it hard and durable. One of the other reasons that clay roofs are sustainable are the fact that they keep homes nice and cool in warm climates. This is why they are found throughout Mediterranean regions, as well as the American southwest.

The durability of clay is another reason that it’s considered to be sustainable. Materials like asphalt shingles need to be replaced more often. This leads to more and more manufacturing, and a greater toll on the environment. When a clay roof, or more likely, the house underneath has reached the end of its lifespan, the tiles can be ground down and repurposed to other things like gravel.

Clay roofs can last a lifetime if they are installed correctly. More often, it’s simply the underlayment that needs attention during the lifespan of the roof.

If you are considering a clay roof, remember that its lifespan depends on proper installation, so make sure to contact the professionals at Horizon to put a new clay tile roof on your house. Preventative maintenance is always key to long life, so periodically, check in with a roofing contractor to see if there are small repairs or tasks that can save you big time in the long run.

Concrete roofing tiles

Like clay roofing tiles, concrete tiles are made from all natural abundant ingredients like sand, cement and iron oxide. Since factories are usually located close to the places where these materials are found, they have a much lower carbon footprint because trucks don’t need to travel far from the quarry to the manufacturing facility.

What’s amazing is that when the materials are mixed together to form the tiles, other recycled content can be mixed in. Typically, these are things like tiles that were made but never used, or tiles that were broken. This means the process of making tiles is very efficient, nothing is wasted.

Concrete is a great choice for energy efficiency as well. They reflect sunlight, keeping the structure cooler underneath. Additionally, they help keep warm air inside a home during colder months. This cuts down on heating and cooling costs, which is green for the environment, and a win for your gas and electric bill as well. Concrete is also a very long lifespan product. The tiles can last 3 or 4 times as long as an asphalt roof, which means less overall manufacturing and waste.

Great for the environment, great for looks

Both concrete and clay tiles are available in so many colors and shapes, they can fit just about any home or office building look, as well as complimenting the surrounding community. When it comes to the environmental impact on your city or town, remember that green, sustainable roofing can have a cooling effect on an entire community through its beneficial thermal properties.

Clay tiles are often found in the centuries old “barrel style” configuration, often associated with Spanish missions. While this look suits many buildings, there are many other styles available. The same goes for the color, while the red is the most classic look, different pigments are added during the manufacture, making them available in many other shades as well.

When you think of concrete, you often think of the same bland color of the sidewalk. When it comes to roofing concrete, there are multitudes of colors and shades available to suit just about anyone’s tastes. This is because natural pigment can be added as they are made, so the sky’s the limit when it comes to color.

Sustainable roofing requires expert installation

Both clay and concrete tile roofs are quite heavy. This means that the supporting structure needs to be able to handle it. Horizon doesn’t cut corners. When we give you an estimate, we’ll look at your existing roof deck and roofing support structure to make sure it’s up to the task.

Getting the maximum lifespan out of clay or concrete roofing means making sure the underlayment is sturdy and waterproof. Professional roofers also take great care to make sure that any ventilation pipes or grates have proper watertight flashing.

Don’t take chances with inexperienced installers. When clay and concrete tiles are installed properly, they can be the last roof you’ll ever need, giving you decades of waterproof durability.

Making a sustainable choice

When you choose a concrete or clay tile roof, you are making a great choice that doesn’t just benefit you, it benefits the entire planet. Not only will you have a great looking, long lasting roof, but one you can take pride in, knowing you did your part to keep our planet thriving.

Sources:

https://houseaffection.com/a-quick-guide-to-sustainable-roofing-materials/

https://eagleroofing.com/2019/05/concrete-roof-tiles-a-sustainable-roofing-material/

Call us on(714) 328-1967, email us at horizonroofingcompany@gmail.com, or contact us here today.