There are several innovative ways to make your home more environmentally friendly. You can reduce and recycle waste in your home to lessen your negative impact on the planet. You can install modern fixtures for energy or water efficiency to conserve natural resources.

If you’re planning to invest in a home renovation though, specifically for your roof, you’d want to opt for sustainable materials. You can replace the roofing structure with eco-friendly or efficient materials. You can also alter the roof’s design in a way that wastes less or gives more benefits.

Which materials are the most sustainable?

When you need to repair your roof or if you plan a total overhaul and re-roofing project, the material you choose will be the most instrumental in achieving your sustainability goals. Among the highly recognized eco-friendly materials are metal, wood shakes, and clay or concrete tiles. In general, these materials do not require much energy in their manufacturing phase, nor do they produce much chemical waste. You can choose depending on your home’s aesthetics and your budget.

What other things make roofs green?

By using earth-friendly materials in your roofing, you can improve your home’s energy efficiency. This is mainly because of a green roof’s ability to sufficiently insulate your home and help make it cooler during the day and warmer at night. This insulating property of efficient roofing implies that leaks of hot or cool air indoors are lessened and the ventilation systems do not need to work overtime.

Likewise, sustainable roofs can last for several years without much damage and can be recycled eventually. Since you don’t have to replace or repair them every now and again, you don’t need to add to the demand for new materials. As some materials are recyclable, you don’t have to worry about producing too much landfill waste that can be toxic to the environment.

What should be your other considerations?

An experienced roofing company in Palo Alto, such as Shelton Roofing, can also help you pick out the right natural colors or paint, finishes, and adhesives used to install the roofing materials to better assure its sustainable quality. Of course, the design (especially the pitch or slant of the new roof) and the repair or installation techniques used must also be considered, and roofing experts that value sustainability can assure that for you.

Sources:

Roofing, Sustainable Sources

Paints, Finishes and Adhesives, Sustainable Sources

Sustainable Roofing Materials, About.com

4 Ways to Make Your Roof Eco-Friendly, About.com