Energy Efficiency In A Small Business

As a small business owner, saving money on your energy costs is one of the best ways to keep your bottom line as low as possible.

Believe it or not, your roof is responsible for about 25 percent of your business’s energy loss. Over time, this contributes to an increase in your energy bills, heating costs, and the overall comfort of your building.

If there was a way to make your commercial roof more eco-friendly, wouldn’t you want to?

Luckily, new eco-friendly roofing materials can help significantly improve your building’s energy efficiency while also protecting the structure from the elements.

That means more savings for your business and less downtime for leaks and water damage repairs.

Read on to learn a few simple tips that will help you make your roof as eco-friendly as possible.

1. Paint It White

Traditionally, commercial roofs are black or dark flat roofing systems. While this is great for melting snow and ice in the winter, it can make your building less energy efficient.

Black roofing materials absorb heat from the sun. This heat is then radiated throughout the attic and upper floors of your building.

The more heat that’s absorbed, the harder your air conditioner will have to work to keep your building comfortable during the spring and summer.

Worse, the buildup of heat can actually cause the materials supporting the roof to warp.

Instead, paint it white and turn your commercial roof into a cool roof.

Your roofing team will be able to use a protective white roof coating designed to reflect the heat while also acting as a protective barrier against snow, hail, water, and other natural hazards.

Top Writers

Charlotte

Verified writer

4.7 (348)

Sweet V

Verified writer

4.9 (984)

RhizMan

Verified writer

4.9 (247)

hire verified writer

2. Use Recycled or Recyclable Materials

The easiest way to reduce your building’s footprint and help keep waste out of landfills is to use recycled roofing materials.

When considering a commercial roof replacement, look for materials made from old roofing scrap.

Asphalt shingles, metal panels, and even clay tiles are all great choices and can be made from old materials.

You’ll get the same quality protection you expect from a new roof while also helping keep otherwise usable materials out of the landfill.

If you can’t find reclaimed or recycled roofing materials that fit your business’s needs, look for roofing materials that can be repurposed when you’re done with them.

Clay tiles, wood shakes, and rubber shingles can all be transformed into new products when they’re no longer suitable for your roof.

3. Evaluate Your Insulation

Even commercial roofs need a good layer of insulation to keep the temperatures outside from influencing the temperatures inside.

When there’s not enough insulation along the top level of your building, the weather outside can leave your building feeling unseasonably warm or unbearably cold.

Worse, inadequate insulation can put your building at risk for leaks and water damage.

When considering a commercial roof replacement, make sure to have your insulation levels evaluated.

If there’s not enough insulation in the attic space, more can be added before the new roof is installed. You’ll notice an immediate improvement in your building’s energy efficiency, making your building more eco-friendly in the process.

4. Prepare the Roof for Solar Panels

When you think of making your building more eco-friendly, solar panels should be at the forefront of your mind. However, they can be tricky to install on your building.

When you’re installing a new roof, make the most of your new materials and let the roofing contractors prep the surface for solar installation.

With the right prep work, panels can be mounted to almost any material.

Even if your old roofing materials were not able to support the weight of the panels, new plastic shingles and eco-roofing materials will be up to the task.

Before you work with the roofer, make sure to have an energy audit to determine how many panels your business needs.

However, installing even a few panels will help offset your energy costs each month.

5. Make the Switch to Metal Roofing

One of the most eco-friendly roofing materials available is metal. These roofs are incredibly durable, low maintenance, and can be recycled when you finally need to replace the system.

Since the average metal roof lasts for about 50 years with regular care and maintenance, you’ll spend less money on roof replacements and contribute less waste to the landfill over time.

The material itself can be painted almost any color, making it easy to adapt to any area’s building code or property appearance regulations.

Best of all, you’ll save money on roofing repairs for the life of the roof!

6. Choose a Company with Experience

The most eco-friendly roofs are the ones that last for as long as possible.

When a roof is replaced, the entire roof must be removed and thrown away. Trying to install new materials on top of old often leads to worse damage and extensive repairs down the road.

If a roof is installed poorly, it’s likely that your business will need to have extensive roof repairs or even a full replacement far earlier than it should.

Each repair or replacement means more materials head to the landfill, increasing your business’s carbon footprint.

Worse, since many traditional roofing materials use chemicals in the manufacturing process, you’ll inadvertently be contributing to pollution and damage to local ecosystems.

By working with an experienced roofing company, you’ll reduce the risk of installation errors and premature repairs. Over the life of your roof, this will both save you money and keep more materials from heading to the dump.

How We Can Help with Your Business’s Eco-Friendly Roofing Needs

At TEMA Roofing Services, we understand that every commercial roof is different and what works for one building may not be the best option for your company.

Our team has more than 50 years of experience and will make sure your roof is as energy-efficient as possible.

Contact us today to schedule a free no-obligation consultation for your commercial roof repair or replacement.