Are Flat Roofs Eco-Friendly for Orange County Buildings?

If you’re building new construction in Orange County, consider incorporating a flat roof design. Many Orange County property owners fail to recognize that flat roofs are eco-friendly for our climate. Read on to discover what makes flat roofs an Earth-friendly option in Orange County.

Now That’s a Green Flat Roof!

Many Reasons to Love Single-Ply TPO

These days, single-ply thermoplastic olefin (TPO) plays an important role in flat roof building materials. What does this mean for the green movement? Plenty!

Recyclable

To begin with, TPO provides a durable and lightweight product for the roof. The longer the material lasts, the less often it is replaced. That means you use less, so less is made, and that’s eco-friendly for sure!

Next, when TPO replacement time rolls around, this material takes on new life. TPO recycles, so it stays out of our Orange County landfills. As a matter of fact, TPO recycles and becomes flooring materials. So, what used to be over your head on your roof could end up in the house under your feet!

Recycled TPO also re-enters the supply chain as raw materials as well. So, this means it may take on a new life as another TPO membrane.

Save on Cooling Bills

TPO reflects ultraviolet light and heat back into the Orange County atmosphere. Where dark roofing materials absorb light and heat, light materials send those energy hogs packing.

Reflecting light and heat keep your home or office building cool. Naturally, you use less energy to keep the building comfortable for the human occupants.

Even if your heating and cooling energy comes from the sun or wind, the less you use the better. And if your heating and cooling run on electricity or gas, using less is way better.

Energy Star and Flat Roofs

The Department of Energy’s Energy Star program recognizes flat roof’s unique energy-saving capabilities.

These cool roofs are particularly important in the southern parts of the United States. A Lawrence Berkley lab study shows that a clean white flat roof can be up to 50°F cooler than its grey counterpart. Even roofs with low insulation levels perform well when outfitted with a cool roof.

Also, keep in mind that flat roofs contain less mass, so they use fewer materials. That means it takes less energy to produce the materials. Even if you aren’t using the most energy-efficient materials, you are still using fewer of them.