Is a Metal Roof Good for the Environment?
With a greater focus on the environmental impact of building a home, many builder and home owners are looking to use more sustainable products when available. When it comes to roofing, one of the most environmentally friendly options is a metal roof.
Metal roofs have several benefits over traditional asphalt singes that makes them a more environmentally friendly choice. Let’s take a look at the three biggest reasons why metal roofs are an eco-friendly roofing option.
RECYCLABLE
One of the advantages of metal roofs, especially when compared to asphalt roofs, is that they are recyclable at the end of their life.
The metal panels on your roof can get recycled, re-smelted, and turned back into metal panels for other homes. Most metal roofs are made from 25% recycled material.
Asphalt shingles, on the other hand, are not recyclable and are made from oil based products. Because asphalt shingles are not recyclable, approximately 20 billion pounds of asphalt shingles end up in landfills each year in the U.S.
The recyclability of metal is one of the biggest reasons why metal roofs are an eco-friendly roofing option.
ENERGY EFFICIENT
Apart from being recyclable, metal roofs also make your home more energy-efficient. Metal does a better job than asphalt at reflecting heat and keeping your home cooler.
Metal roofs can reduce cooling cost by 10% to 25% depending on the solar reflectivity of the roof color.
Metal ability to reflect the sun and not absorb as much heat makes it a perfect material for anyone building net-zero homes. The right metal roof will also be LEED-certified which could help you get a tax credit.
LONG LIFESPAN
Another significant benefit of metal roofs is their long lifespan. Metal roofs are considered to be lifetime roofs which mean that most people will never have to replace them in their entire life. High quality metal roofs are made to last 50+ years without needing to be replaced.
Because metal roofs last so long, it decreases the need for more oil-based material to be made and used. A metal roof will last 2 to 3 times longer than a shingle roof. That means that most homeowners who choose shingle roofs will need to replace their roof 2 or 3 times before a metal roof needs to be replaced.
The long lifespan of metal dramatically reduces the amount of shingle material being used over time.
CONCLUSION
Many homeowners in Park City are trying to use more sustainable building materials, and solutions for their homes and metal roofs are the perfect solution for anyone looking to decrease their impact.
Metal roofs have three main reasons why they are an eco-friendly option: metal roofs last longer than shingle roofs which reduces the need for oil-based shingles to be replaced every 20 years; metal roofs are more energy-efficient and can reduce your cooling costs by 10% to 25%; metal roofs are 100% recyclable at the end of their life.
If you are looking at making your home more green, a metal roof is a great place to invest.