Which Green Roof is Right for You?

It is no secret that the world is going green.

With a focus on sustainability practices at an all-time high, businesses worldwide are looking for ways to make their commercial properties more environmentally friendly. Luckily, as the movement has grown, so has the number of options at our disposal.

Green roofing options not only help lessen your commercial property’s environmental impact, they also bring massive long-term benefits to you!  Designed with efficiency in mind, many kinds of green roofs can significantly cut your energy costs, helping you save a ton of money in the long run.

Here are a few different kinds of green roofs and the benefits they bring:

Solar Panels

When someone brings up green sustainability practices, solar panels are probably the first thought that comes to mind. It has become increasingly common to see rows of solar panels on the roofs of commercial and residential properties, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down with good reason. In a sunny state like Colorado, the amount of electricity generated by these panels can offset your energy costs by over 80% and pay for itself in as little as ten years! This efficiency reduces your property’s energy demand, decreasing its CO₂ output and making it much more environmentally friendly.

Cool Roof Coating

Another common but lesser-known solution is cool roof coating systems. Cool roof coatings are thick paint-like coatings with white or unique reflective pigments that reflect sunlight. The benefits of applying cool roof coating to your roof are multi-faceted. The first and most prominent benefit is its reflective properties significantly reduce the energy required to cool your property, thus reducing consumption and costs. The second is due to the thickness and uniformity of its application; it serves as a sealant that can prevent leaks in your roof for 20+ years if it is appropriately maintained. These sealing properties, plus their resistance to UV and other environmental damages, can prolong the life of your roof exponentially, saving you money in repairs, or worse, total replacements.

Metal Roof Paneling

Not commonly associated with green practices, metal actually can be one of the most efficient paneling materials you can have installed on your property’s roof. Growing increasingly popular in the US, metal roofing systems are known for being sturdy and durable, withstanding even the harshest weather conditions. Metal roofing, being inherently reflective, offers the same energy consumption cutting benefits that cool roof coatings can provide. Additionally, due to the material’s sturdiness, metal roofing systems can last for 40-70 years with proper maintenance! When the time finally comes for your metal roof to be replaced, the material is 100% recyclable, making it one of the best green solutions.

Living Roofs

A growing trend of the last five years, living roofs are becoming increasingly popular in metropolitan areas. Commercial property owners have taken to turning their property’s roof into a garden area, giving it a gorgeous look with plenty of benefits. With plants and soil absorbing and reflecting heat that would otherwise affect the building, the insular benefits help you reduce energy costs while also converting CO₂ into oxygen. Additionally, the plants and soil absorb rainfall, significantly reducing the chance of pooling and leaks on your roof. Finally, the pleasing aesthetic of a living roof has proven to increase the value of a given commercial property as high as 10%!

Going green with your commercial property’s roof has never been easier. Ripe with benefits for you and the environment, considering a green roofing system should be on your to-do list. Whether it’s the energy-generating solar panels or the visually striking and insularly living roofs, you have many options to choose from.

Let us help you decide what option is best for making your commercial property’s roof go green. Contact us today.