subject: Discover That Not All Eco Roofs Are Green Roofs [print this page] When people in the greater Los Angeles area think of going green, they often think of changing their lifestyle toward becoming more environmentally agreeable. When it comes to the phrase "green roofs" though, people typically think of any type of roof that is environmentally responsible. But the fact is that green roofs are a special kind of eco roof that incorporates plants and other organic things. The terms might be a bit misleading, but the goals are the same: to alter the current mindset in the construction field to become more conscience of mankinds effect on the planet.
The push to create new eco roofing materials has yielded some great new products for all classes of desired looks. For those that desire the affluent look of legendary castles and cathedrals, there are several kinds of eco slate roofing materials. Eco slate roofing materials look just like a classic slate roof, except they use less slate and they give the building owner excellent savings on their utility costs.
Eco metal roofing materials are similar to other types of metal roofs, with some exceptions; eco metal uses recycled materials, and they are coated with special treatments that reflect the heat from the hot Southern California sun away from the center of the house. These cool roof coatings can help to save into 50% on the typical utility expenses associated with keeping a structure air conditioned.
Then there are eco wood shake roofing materials that are made with recycled wood and plastic, but when finished look a lot like regular wood shingles. The great thing about eco wood shake roofing materials is that they do not have to be altered for fire protection. These wood shakes are made with a class A fire rating and a class 4 impact rating, which is the best rating any kind of roofing material can get.
As far as green roofs go, this form of roof design is found to really take off in this current push to find methods to live in harmony with nature. If every commercial structure in Southern California installed green roofs, not only would it cut energy usage, it would also help to improve the air quality for the entire state.
Because green roofs convert the regularly black rooftops of commercial buildings into lush gardens, these roofs can then be used for simple rooftop park space or used for other stuff. Some savvy commercial building owners have taken their green roofs and leased out to bio-tech firms or even nurseries, which adds to the total revenue for the commercial building as a whole.
The best aspect about all of these environmentally responsible roofs is that they qualify for fantastic tax credits. The federal government and the state of California have been offering tax incentives to edifice owners that go green. There are even some communities in the greater Los Angeles area that also offer some incentives to commercial building owners that incorporate energy saving designs into their buildings.
