Sustainable Commercial Roofing Materials: Eco-Friendly Options

Environmental consciousness has become increasingly important to the owners of commercial buildings. On one hand, it’s a moral issue, as many building owners recognize that their properties’ carbon footprints are becoming an issue. On the other hand, being energy efficient and eco-friendly often saves money in the long run. 

We’ll discuss the different types of eco-friendly roofing options, walking through green roofs, solar panels, metal roofs, and other options for commercial buildings. These sustainable roofing materials will help you invest in not only your building but also a more sustainable future.

Why Sustainable Roofing Matters for Commercial Buildings

There are lots of roofing material choices to choose from, so why are sustainable roofing options important? At a minimum, choosing sustainable roofing materials helps reduce your building’s carbon footprint and enhances its overall performance. Eco-friendly roofs come in a variety of types, and they can reduce energy consumption, improve air quality, lower energy costs, and more. For commercial buildings, sustainable solutions allow property owners to be environmentally responsible while also improving the long-term financial outlook of the building through energy savings and extending the roof’s lifespan. 

The commercial roofing industry itself has moved increasingly toward sustainable roofing solutions. Innovation has improved energy efficiency and environmental performance, but they also allow building owners to get ahead of regulatory requirements and certification programs, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). 

Top Eco-Friendly Roofing Options for Commercial Buildings

Property owners have several sustainable roofing materials to choose from for commercial applications. Each offers its own benefits. 

1. Green Roofs: A Living, Sustainable Solution

One of the most unique and innovative roofing system options for commercial buildings is the green roof. A green roof is a roofing system that is partially or completely covered with vegetation planted over a waterproof membrane. They act as natural insulation, reducing heating and cooling energy costs. 

Green roofs are also helpful with stormwater management by absorbing rainwater to reduce runoff. They also reduce urban heat, and promote air quality by filtering pollutants out of the air.

Benefits of Green Roofs:

• Energy efficiency: The vegetation on green roofs acts as an insulating layer, which reduces energy consumption for both heating and cooling.
• Improved air quality: By filtering pollutants and releasing oxygen, green roofs contribute to cleaner air around the building.
• Stormwater management: Green roofs absorb rainfall, reducing runoff and minimizing the strain on drainage systems. 

The downside to green roofs is that they’re heavy, requiring more structural support due to the added weight of the soil, vegetation, and water content. However, the long-term benefits of energy savings and increased roof lifespan often outweigh the drawbacks for commercial property owners.

2. Solar Panels: Harnessing Renewable Energy

Solar panels are less of a roof material and more of a way to make an existing roof more eco-friendly. However, integrating solar panels into your roof design provides a renewable power source that can make a major impact on the building’s dependency on traditional electricity sources. 

By installing solar panels, a business can reduce their energy costs and even reap the benefit of energy initiatives in rebates or tax credits. Solar roofs can be added to existing structures to provide sustainable solutions for commercial buildings. 

Benefits of Solar Roofs:

• Energy generation: Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, helping to offset energy consumption from non-renewable sources.
• Reduced energy bills: Over time, businesses with solar roofs see significant reductions in their energy expenses.
• Environmentally friendly: By using renewable energy, solar panels reduce a building’s carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.

Solar roofs provide long-term savings and align with green building standards, promoting sustainability in the form of renewable energy. 

3. Metal Roofs: Durable and Recyclable

When it comes to commercial structures, few options are as durable and eco-friendly as metal. Commercial roofing materials made from aluminum and steel are entirely recyclable and very long-lasting, often outlasting other materials for decades. Consider the reflectivity properties of a metal roof, and it’s easy to see how these materials can lower energy costs.

Benefits of Metal Roofs:

• Longevity: Metal roofs can last 40 to 70 years, making them a long-term solution for commercial buildings.
• Recyclability: At the end of its lifespan, a metal roof can be fully recycled, reducing waste in landfills.
• Energy efficiency: Metal roofs reflect sunlight, which helps to reduce the heat absorbed by the building, cutting down on cooling costs.

For commercial applications, metal roofs are hard to beat in terms of aesthetics, sustainability, durability, and long-term effectiveness. The use of recycled materials in metal roofs makes them ever more attractive. However, the initial cost is often higher than other options, so that needs to be a consideration as well. 

4. Cool Roofs: Reflecting Solar Heat for Efficiency

Cool roofs are another type of eco-friendly roofing option that many commercial building owners should consider. Cool roofs are designed to reflect sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. They’re generally coated in white reflective material, allowing sunlight to bounce off and reduce the energy consumption associated with the building’s air conditioning output. 

Benefits of Cool Roofs:

• Energy conservation: By reflecting the sun’s rays, cool roofs help reduce the need for air conditioning, especially in hot climates.
• Lower cooling costs: By maintaining a lower surface temperature, cool roofs reduce the amount of energy needed to keep a building cool.
• Extended roof life: Lower temperatures on the roof surface can help extend the lifespan of the roof by reducing the risk of heat-related damage.

Cool roofs have many benefits, but it’s important to realize that they reflect heat all year long, not just summer. This could lead to increasing heating costs in the summer. Also, the glare from cool roofs can be uncomfortable.

5. Recycled Shingles: Reducing Waste with Sustainable Materials

For buildings where they apply, recycled composite shingles can be a great sustainable roofing option. These shingles are made from materials like plastic, rubber, or reclaimed wood, and they’re more environmentally friendly than traditional asphalt shingles because they keep waste from collecting in landfills.

Benefits of Recycled Shingles:

• Eco-friendly: By using recycled materials, these shingles contribute to waste reduction and a lower carbon footprint.
• Durability: Despite being made from recycled content, these shingles offer strength and weather resistance comparable to conventional options.

For building owners interested in reducing their environmental impact without sacrificing durability, recycled shingles are an excellent eco-friendly roofing option. However, they’re not suitable for flat or low-slope roofing systems. 

The Future of Sustainable Commercial Roofing

Like the entire building industry, commercial roofing continues to evolve and focus more on sustainable roofing materials being the standard. Building owners who invest in eco-friendly roofing solutions are future-proofing their buildings for future regulations, improving the environmental outlook for the rest of their communities, and benefiting from reduced energy costs and long-term savings.

Regardless of your roofing material of choice, trust Nations Roof to handle it. We have over 100 years of combined experience in the roofing industry, making us the preferred roofing contractor. We’ll help you plan, design, and install your sustainable commercial roofing options so you can benefit from a more eco-conscious future, as well.