With energy costs continuing to rise, the popularity of eco-friendly roofing systems are also on the rise. According to the US Department of Energy, the average American household releases about 2 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as energy is consumed each year. It has also been reported that homeowners spend upwards of 11 billion dollars a year to cool their homes. California and several other states have passed tax incentives, rebate programs, and building permit waivers for homeowners and businesses to help stimulate more eco-friendly and environmentally conservative building practices. Like many large cities, Los Angeles suffers from what is called the Urban Heat Island Syndrome (UHI). This problem is caused by modifying the land surfaces and displacing naturally occurring vegetation with heat-absorbing materials like concrete and asphalt. Heat waste from automobiles, air conditioning units, and industrial energy uses all contribute to the Urban Heat Island effect. This results in irregular weather patterns like higher temperatures in summer months and loss of rainfall. Listed below are several types of roofing systems offered by Permanent Roof that can help to reduce the Urban Heat Island effect and the overall carbon footprint. Many of these systems are low maintenance, offer substantial energy savings, and are a smart investment for homeowners and businesses. Green roof systems are classified as: protective coatings, reflective membranes, garden systems, slate, metal, tile, concrete, and photovoltaic. Scroll down for a detailed description and the benefits of each green roof system offered by Permanent Roof.

Reflective Roof Coatings

A reflective roof coating or white roof is the best known and most applied of all Green Roof Systems. These systems reduce roof temperatures and thereby save electricity, and are great for almost every application, including residences, apartment buildings, condominiums, townhouses, retail buildings, schools, malls, and hi-rises.

White roof systems involve applying a fluid directly onto the roof. A superior acrylic roof coating waterproofing component is used. Compared to most re-roofing alternatives, this system provides an efficient, high-quality solution at a fraction of the cost.

Some of the benefits of white roof systems are:

• They are Safe to Apply: The roof coating is applied at ambient temperature, eliminating the possibility of injuries from 500-degree asphalt and fires caused by overheated kettles or torches.
• There is NO Adverse Environmental Impact: Since there is no tear-off of the existing roof, and it is applied at ambient temperature, we are not contributing to landfill and not polluting the atmosphere with smoke. The reflective coating reduces roof surface temperature and saves electricity, which is why we call it a Green Roof System.
• They are Odorless: Acrylic roof coatings have no odor, unlike the smells of melted asphalt or tar. Because there are no odors to irritate customers or employees, the project is less disruptive to your ongoing business activity.
• Reflective Coatings are Lightweight: The system’s light weight allows application over the original roof with a minimal weight increase: 40 lbs. per 100 sq. ft., as opposed to 175 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. for a cap sheet and 500 lbs. per 100 sq. ft. for a gravel roof.
• And Strong: Over 300% stronger than fiberglass or organic roofing felts.
• And Flexible: Acrylic roof coatings go on at ambient temperature and retain their structure and flexibility, unlike hot applications, which become brittle after drying.
• They Create a Monolithic Roof: As the polyester is embedded in the acrylic coating, the saturated membrane becomes a seamless, integral part of the total roof system.
• Reflective Coatings Keep the Building and Roof Cool: The white acrylic roof coating protects the roof from ultraviolet deterioration and reflects solar-induced heating from the building interior. This lowers the cost to run AC equipment and reduces energy consumption, maintenance, and utility costs.
• They are Cost-Effective: This system can be expensed as maintenance, rather than capitalized over years like a conventional roof.

Garden Roofs

Used with great success in Europe, Canada, and Asia, garden roofs are beginning to catch on in the United States.

Garden roof systems come in two types:

Intensive: Built-in-place systems that are constructed on the rooftop. These systems use a deeper soil, which can accommodate larger plants, and even trees. These systems tend to cover the whole roof area with vegetation, as opposed to the extensive or modular system, which employs the use of containers.

Modular Garden Roof System

Extensive: Often called modular systems; they are assembled off-site and brought to the site ready for installation. These are self-contained biotic systems seeded with alpines, succulents, herbs, and grasses that are appropriate to the area. These systems are left alone to grow and develop naturally and are easier and quicker to install, while built-in-place systems require more maintenance and installation techniques.

Succulents have been proven to be the ideal plant for garden roof systems due to their ability to absorb water in their leaves, stems, and roots, which allows them to weather droughts and dormant times of the year.

Benefits of garden roofs include:

• Reducing heating and cooling costs
• Protecting the roof membrane against UV radiation, temperature fluctuations, and punctures
• Extending the overall life of the roof
• Enhancing the aesthetics of the building by recreating a natural habitat
• Absorbing carbon dioxide
• Producing oxygen
• Ability to absorb 50-95% of rainfall that falls on them
• Filtering and controlling stormwater runoff
• Overall reduction of the Urban Heat Island Syndrome
• May qualify for green building certification credits

Garden Roofs are considered pervious building areas, allowing a developer to maximize the design of the building.

Permanent Roof uses Fibertite Garden Roof Systems. Fibertite Roof Systems are the only garden roofing system that does not require a root barrier. You can learn more about Fibertite here.

Photovoltaic (PV) Roof Systems

Photovoltaic (PV) roofing systems involve solar cells and panels that channel sunlight and convert it into electricity, thereby producing energy savings. California offers rebate programs for local businesses and residential homeowners interested in having PV systems installed on their roofs. Currently, the city of Santa Monica offers a building permit fee waiver for solar projects and an expedited permit process. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power offers solar incentives and is one of the largest programs of its kind in the nation. It has been estimated that California alone is the 3rd largest consumer of solar-powered applications in the world. Another benefit of using a solar roof system is that they can collect and heat your hot water for even more cost savings over the lifetime of the roof. Used in conjunction with solar instead of electric attic fans, an attic’s temperature can be lowered by 50%, which can save a homeowner or business owner up to 30% on their air conditioning costs alone during the hottest times of the year. With these kinds of savings, it’s smart to consider a Photovoltaic Roof System. Right now, there are two main types of PV systems: amorphous and crystalline silicon systems. Amorphous systems are 9 percent efficient, with a flexible, thin film installed directly over the membrane. Crystalline systems are 34 percent efficient and are also installed over the membrane.

These systems have an average life expectancy of more than 30 years.

New PV technology called flexible thin film is also on the horizon. Nanosolar, a company in Palo Alto, makes solar panels from pliant sheets of foil, which can be molded onto roof shingles. More attractive and costing less than traditional solar panels, experts say this product could produce electricity for about the national average of 10.4 cents per kilowatt-hour. While these roofs may cost more than a conventional roof, the significant savings over a 30-year period makes it well worth the money spent as this roof system will pay for itself in a very short time.

Call Permanent Roof today to find out more about how we can help you save energy with a new green roofing system. 310-838-ROOF (7663)