Atlanta Green Roofing

Consumers today are being more energy conscious than ever. Many industries have worked to keep up with advances in green technologies and the roofing industry is no different. KTM Roofing is proud to offer metro Atlanta residents a variety of eco-friendly technologies that can reduce the impact of a new roof installation on the environment, while reducing your home’s energy consumption. Can a roof installation be green? KTM Roofing in Atlanta says ‘yes.’

What is Green Roofing?

When you hear the term, ‘green roof,’ historically you might have pictured an image of a building with a flat roof composed of green grass with plants growing on it. Although such green roofs exist (especially in Northern Europe–like Norway and Newfoundland), ‘green’ roofing has become synonymous with environmentally friendly roofing projects.

Methods of Green Roofing

In the 30 years that KTM has been roofing Atlanta homes several advancements in roofing technology, along with roofing materials and options have occurred. Today KTM Roofing is able to present a variety of green roofing options to metro Atlanta homeowners that address various roofing price points including natural roofing materials such as slate, tile and more traditional roofs consisting of eco-friendly asphalt shingles.

Green Roofs made of Asphalt Shingles?

When most people think of asphalt roofing shingles they don’t associate the connection to green roofs. Furthermore, when people think of asphalt shingles they often think of hazardous materials that are not good for the environment and end up in landfills. Times have changed and so have asphalt shingles.

For years asphalt shingles were plagued with short lifespans, about 25-30 years, and disposal problems of the old roofs, which are considered hazardous materials. Both associations have been dramatically improved, and KTM believes that asphalt green roofing can be an affordable alternative in reach for many homeowners looking for green roof options.

How Asphalt Roofing can be Green:

To transform traditional asphalt roof installation into a green roof installation there are two critical areas that must be addressed, materials and disposal.

Materials: 50 year asphalt shingles – Most homes have a 30 year asphalt roof, which means if properly maintained, the roof is designed to last for 30 years. Did you know there were longer lasting options? Leading roofing companies today now offer 40 and even 50 year roofs.

The additional cost for the higher rated asphalt roofing shingles can be a great investment, especially for those planning to stay in their home for 20 years or more. Installing a 40, or 50 year asphalt roof shingles will also cut down on the waste that would be generated by future roof installations in the home’s lifetime. Seen as a balance between eco-friendly and affordable, this longer lasting roof is fast becoming an alternative to the green-minded consumer.

Recycling: recycle asphalt shingles – Notoriously associated as a hazardous material, advances in waste management have resulted in the possibility of recycling asphalt shingles. Reroofing generates an estimated 10 million tons of waste each year, which can be reduced if more asphalt roofing tiles are recycled. Talk to your KTM sales representative to learn more about asphalt shingle recycling on your next roofing project.

Natural Green Roof Materials

Green roofs from natural stone-based materials last longer than traditional roofing materials. Some of Atlanta’s finest homes are roofed with natural materials such as slate or tile. The investment such green roofs can dramatically increase the time needed between roof replacements by decades, cutting down on landfill waste.

Additional Roof Materials

• Slate
• Tile
• Concrete Fiber-cement composite roofing
• Recycled content plastic / rubber shingles

 

Light-Colored Roofs

Light colored roofing reduces the need to turn on the air-conditioner in the summertime and can reduce air conditioning costs by 10 to 15 percent. Light colored roofing reflects heat from the sun and minimizes the urban heat island effect, which occurs when cities have higher temperatures than surrounding areas by 2 to 10 degrees. Light colored shingles also last longer, as they experience less contraction and expansion over their lifetime.

Saving Money with Well-Insulated Roofs

In addition to reflecting light, it is important to have well-insulated roofs to keep your home warm in the winter. Look for roof materials with the highest R-value, which measures a material’s resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the less reliance you will have on fossil fuels to heat your home.

What is Sustainable Roofing?

In recent years a lot of focus has been directed towards sustainable roofing. Sustainable roofing is accomplished in 5 ways:

• Recycled content in the roofing product
• The use of recyclable materials, such as thermoplastics and metal
• Extended service life
• More efficient use of energy and other natural resources
• The actual renewal of natural resources

Find a Green Roofing Contractor

Looking for a green roofing contractor? Find out why so many residents look to KTM Roofing as a leading green roofing company. We assess your roof and present to you a variety of green roofing options. Regardless of budget KTM Roofing prides itself on providing eco-friendly and energy efficient green roof solutions to the homeowner looking for green roofing alternatives