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Tag Archive: green cities

  1. We Celebrate Responsible Building Practices in April!

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    In our last post we gave you the ins and outs of Earth Day and how it is a reminder to consider the environment in all decisions we make throughout our daily lives – sound familiar? Since it is finally April and Earth Day is fast approaching we are seizing the opportunity to tell you about additional roofing materials and systems that benefit the environment.

    Green roofs, also known as living roofs, are partly or completely covered with a waterproof membrane, a growing medium, and vegetation. They are an environmentally friendly roofing system that aims to reduce energy consumption and foster the idea of green cities. The addition of a green roof system helps to improve energy and water efficiency, while reducing pollution. Green roofs have a focus on water retention and also protect the roof from damaging solar rays.

    Because the system thrives on living plants, a direct result of the sun and rain, the roof becomes not only functional but aesthetically pleasing to the eye. These types of installations help keep buildings cool because the plants absorb the sun’s rays. This reaction leads to lower HVAC use in the summer. On steep sloped roofs, slate and tile are roofing materials that are natural products that can be recycled back into earthen material. These products have a lifespan of about 75-80 years. Green roofs are made up of long lasting materials that lead to lower replacement costs over the years, benefiting both you and the environment!

    We are true advocates of green roofing systems and have been involved in quite a few installations. There are many challenges involved in designing and building a green roofing system that is successful for both the environmental and the building sectors. Keep that in mind when choosing your roofing company… With our experience, we can take on wide variety of green roofing projects that help the environment and the community prosper.

  2. Earth Day Prompts Us to Save Energy

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    April 22nd is the worldwide celebration of Earth Day which reminds us all of the importance of taking actions that save energy, the climate, and the Earth. This year marks the 46th anniversary of the movement that spurred us into action to tackle environmental issues in all parts of our lives.

    A basic campaign of the Earth Day Network is to create green cities so we can live more sustainable lives. Using green building materials to encourage energy efficiency is a strategy for reducing energy consumption in buildings by 30-80%. An area where this can have a dramatic impact is in roofing materials. White roofs (also known as cool roofs) are made from reflective materials that reduce heat transfer to the surface. This keeps the heat from penetrating to the interior of the building, reducing the amount of air conditioning needed to cool the building in the summer. White roofs are beneficial to green cities by reducing local air temperatures and lowering electricity demand and energy generation. In hotter climates these roofs reduce urban heat and keep buildings cooler at night unlike black top, pavement, or dark roofing materials that absorb heat during the day and cool down very slowly after sunset.

    The material used in white roofs can be made from materials that are white in color or materials that have been coated to be reflective. Some ideal materials include EPDM which is a rubber roofing material used on flat and low-slope roofs and is available in white; PNC roofing which is reflective and can provide energy efficiency, and thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) which is growing in acceptance. All of these materials push back the solar rays keeping the roof cooler on scorching hot days.

    Knickerbocker has been involved with many green roofing installations and our specialty roofing capabilities will improve LEED certifications and help create green cities, reduce energy consumption, and be environmentally conscious. Contact us to learn more about white roofs and how they can improve your building’s performance today.