When it’s time to install new roofing on your commercial property, you may be looking for the most durable, cost-effective, long-lasting option. However, is the eco-friendliness of your commercial roof a critical factor for you?
If environmental safety isn’t at the top of your “shopping list” for a new roofing system—you may want to reconsider. Not only is eco-friendly roofing good for the environment, but it can help you save on utility bills, keep your building cool, and increase your roof’s lifespan.
Explore the many eco-friendly options you can choose from for your commercial roofing system!
Eco-Friendly Roofing Materials for Commercial Properties
White Roofing
Roofing systems with white or light-colored membranes are called white roofs or “cool roofs.” Since these roofing systems reflect the sun’s rays, they make the entire building cooler, which can reduce your utility bills—an excellent perk for businesses in Kansas City!
Although any light-colored material can be considered “cool roofing,” flat roofing is typically the most popular white roof option for commercial buildings. Flat roofing is easy to maintain and can offer up to 30–40% energy savings, making it super eco-friendly.
Standing Seam Metal Roofing
Metal roofing, particularly standing seam metal roofing, is an excellent eco-friendly option for your commercial building. Property owners love that standing seam metal roofing is durable, fire-resistant, weatherproof, and long-lasting. In fact, it usually lasts between 50–60 years!
Metal roofing is made from aluminum, steel, copper, or zinc, and many metal roofing materials are made from recycled metals. Metal is also reflective, which will keep your building cooler in the summer, reducing energy usage. Plus, at the end of its (very long!) lifespan, your metal roof can be recycled. There’s no doubt you can be confident you’re minimizing your carbon footprint when installing standing seam metal roofing on your building.
Asphalt Roofing Shingles
If you think asphalt roofing shingles aren’t environmentally friendly—think again! Although its accurate asphalt is a petroleum-based product and, therefore, not sustainable, this popular, cost-effective roofing material offers other eco-friendly benefits that are hard to pass up.
Many asphalt roofing manufacturers source recycled materials, like plastic bags and old tires, to use in asphalt shingles. Plus, at the end of your roofing system’s lifespan, you can recycle your shingles for other asphalt-based products, like parking lots, driveways, biking paths, and more. Then, you know your old roofing system is being repurposed to better your community—what’s more sustainable than that?
TPO Roofing
TPO roofing is a modern, innovative roof material that is flexible, durable, and long-lasting. TPO roofing is also incredibly efficient since it’s designed to reflect the sun’s rays, so it keeps your building cool, minimizes energy usage, and reduces utility bills.
TPO roofing usually lasts for 20 years, and at the end of its lifespan, it can be recycled, making it an ideal eco-friendly roofing option for commercial buildings.
Green Roofing
Green roofing is a flat roof covered with a waterproof membrane, soil, and vegetation, like grass or small plants, and these roofing systems offer just as many benefits for the environment as they do for your commercial building!
Green roofs offer natural insulation for your building and absorb heat and rainwater, making them great for continental climates like Kansas City. Because of this insulation, green roofing can help reduce your energy usage and keep your utility bills low. Plus, many places also offer tax incentives for installing living roofing systems, which is a great benefit!
Green roofing is high maintenance, however, which is critical to keep in mind before installing this type of roof. Yet, when properly cared for, they can last for 30–40 years, and when they’ve reached the end of their lifespan, they can be composted.
Rubber Roofing
Although we mentioned flat roofing earlier, which is a type of rubber roofing, there are also other types of eco-friendly rubber roofing to choose from for your commercial building, like EPDM and Modified Bitumen Roofing.
Rubber roofing is highly durable, can withstand extreme temperatures and weather conditions, and lasts up to 50 years. It reflects and traps heat, keeping your building at a comfortable temperature and your cooling costs low. Plus, rubber roofing is often made from recycled materials, like old tires, and can usually be recycled at the end of its lifespan.
Is Eco-Friendly Roofing Right for My Commercial Property?
If you’re not sure whether eco-friendly roofing is right for your commercial building, here are some of the pros and cons to help you decide:
Benefits of Eco-Friendly Roofing
- Long-Lasting—Most eco-friendly roofs last a long time, so you won’t have to worry about replacing your roofing system for decades.
- Energy-Savings—Eco-friendly roofing is designed to conserve energy, so you’ll potentially enjoy thousands of dollars in savings on your utility bills each year.
- Recyclable—Environmentally safe roofing is often made from recycled materials, and many roofing systems can be recycled at the end of their lifespan.
- Low Maintenance—Eco-friendly roofs are easy to care for (with the exception of green roofing), so they don’t require time-consuming or expensive upkeep.
Disadvantages of Eco-Friendly Roofing
- Expensive—Though there aren’t many disadvantages to eco-friendly roofing, the only potential drawback is the upfront cost. However, since eco-friendly roofing lasts so long, it’s a worthwhile investment that will pay off in the long run!
Explore Eco-Friendly Roofing Materials for Your Commercial Building with Christian Brothers Roofing
Eco-friendly roofing materials don’t just benefit the environment—they also offer many desirable advantages for your business.
Explore the commercial roofing materials we offer at Christian Brothers Roofing, including eco-friendly materials like TPO roofing, cool roofing, and standing seam metal roofing, to choose the perfect material for your commercial building in Kansas City!
