January 18, 2008

Sustainable Roofs Gain Attention

In a recent American Institute of Architects survey, more than half of the architects said the demand for sustainable roofing is up, reports Dallas News. That includes everything from roofs with living plants to traditional roofs made with recycled materials such as fiberglass and asphalt.

Some companies, according to environmental building consultant Dave Johnston, make aluminum roofs from old computer parts or even turn recycled garden hoses into rubber roofs that look like cedar shingles. But those products tend to be expensive since demand is small.

Johnson suggests that standing seam metal roofs are a good option. They are durable enough to last more than 100 years, they can be moved or recycled, and several large homebuilders, such as KB Home, offer them as an optional roof trim.

The AIA recently launched a new sustainability campaign for green building design. Later this year, a new green drywall product is expected to hit the markets.

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