The world seems to be obsessed with "going green" in recent years. Thus, you are probably aware of many of the smaller ways you can reduce your carbon footprint, such as investing in reusable water bottles instead of disposable plastic ones or turning off the lights when you don’t need them. But did you know that there is an even bigger way you can "go green?" And no, I’m not talking about wearing green for St. Patrick’s Day in a few weeks; I’m talking about turning your Columbus roofing system green!

Why Install a Green Columbus Roofing System?

Installing a green roof greatly benefits both the environment and your home. First, a green roof provides natural insulation, decreasing your reliance on artificial home insulation. In other words, your home will more effectively retain heat in the winter, and remain cooler in the summer, lessening your need to crank up the heat or air conditioner. This will result in a lower utility bill for you and your family. More importantly, it will also result in cleaner air in the environment.

Additionally, a green roofing system offers a natural sound barrier. This proves immensely useful if you live in a noisy area (think: frequent overhead planes or a neighbor’s boisterous dog). If you choose to put plants and soil on top of your green roof, outside noise can be effectively reduced by up to 40 decibels. And who couldn’t use some peace and quiet?

Grow a Green Garden on Your Roof!

Finally, if you install a green roof, you have the option to grow an instant garden. Raised beds are used when constructing green roofs, so the roots of the vegetables cannot work their way into your home’s roof coating. Therefore, many things can be safely planted and harvested on a green roof, including lettuce and other types of vegetables and herbs. This can greatly slash your family’s grocery bills, while also helping the environment by eating food that’s locally grown. Additionally, having plants on your Columbus roofing system produces more oxygen in the environment, while naturally filtering out more carbon dioxide, which will reduce air pollution. In a 16 square foot green roof space, enough oxygen can be produced from uncut grass to fulfill the needs of one person for an entire year. Cleaner air, lower grocery bills and a garden at your disposal all make green roofs an appealing choice.

So You Want a Green Columbus Roofing System…Now What?

If you’ve decided that a green roof is right for you, it is time to decide which specific material you want to install. Unfortunately, there is not one material that outshines all the rest. Instead, each substance has unique pros and cons. You should become acquainted with this information and then decide which will best serve you and your home’s needs. Hopefully the following brief synopsis will help you get started.

One material to consider is asphalt shingles. The pros are they are easy to install, relatively durable and cost-effective. Conversely, the cons are that they don’t insulate well, they’re made from petroleum products and they’re non-recyclable.

Another possible material to choose from is metal. Benefits include the fact that they are available in many different types (stainless steel, aluminum, copper), they insulate well, have a high solar reflectance, are recyclable, and are extremely durable (last twice as long as asphalt or wood). Negatives of a metal Columbus roofing system is that they can be very costly because they require large amounts of energy to transport and manufacture.

A third material to consider is clay. Positives are it insulates well, it is Class A fire-rated and it comes in many different colors. The negative is its costliness and the fact that it breaks relatively easily.

Another option is slate. Slate is extremely durable and can last for hundreds of years. It is also recyclable and available in many colors. However, the mining and transportation of slate is very energy-intensive, and slate is very costly and a non-renewable resource.

Other Things to Keep in Mind for a Green Columbus Roofing System…

Keep in mind that you can also choose a roofing material made from clean, post-consumer and post-industrial waste, like plastics and other synthetic materials. Pros include a reduction in the need for raw materials, less waste in landfills and lower energy consumption. Cons include the fact that there are many unknowns about these products because they are relatively new to the market, and they are not as readily available as more traditional Columbus roofing options.

You should also put thought into the color of the material you choose for your green Columbus roofing system. Light colors reflect heat, while darker colors absorb it. Therefore, you will need to choose a roof color that adheres to the climate in which you live. And while you should choose a color that will prove to be energy efficient, be sure that it also blends with the design of the rest of your home. With so many green options available, it is definitely not impossible to achieve both energy efficiency and aestheticism.

Get in touch with Columbus roofing experts, Able Roofing, to learn more about green roof options!