MaintenX is one of Florida’s foremost facility maintenance teams focused on sustainability. In the wake of COVID-19, we have developed a newfound respect for the importance of sustainable design for our clients’ buildings. When things fall apart, you want a structure that is self-reliant. You want a building that can weather the storm for years to come, and that’s precisely what sustainable designs provide.
Re-roofing is a costly and time-intensive project for your facility — you want to do it right the first time. That is why we recommend choosing a sustainable roofing option that will provide your facility with energy-saving benefits and protection from the elements for decades to come.
Back to Basics
Before you opt for a new roof on your facility, it’s important to check your building’s insulation to ensure that’s not the cause of your high heating and cooling bills. Oftentimes, older buildings have improper roofing insulation that allows air to escape. If you’re not careful, this could cost you hundreds of dollars every month.
According to research by the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing, American homes and businesses could reduce their energy usage by 700 trillion Btu if they installed proper roofing insulation. This should be your very first step to creating a sustainable roof design.
Choosing the Right Materials
After improving your insulation, it’s time to start thinking of the right materials for your new roof. Typically concrete or asphalt shingles are used for commercial buildings, but these are not the only options. Metal and wood shake roofing is considered sustainable and can be just as practical for commercial roofing as it is for residential roofs.
Though the materials for metal roofing must be mined, they are considered sustainable because of their recycling capacity and longevity. Metal roofing will last several decades and is often made from mostly recycled materials. If you choose the right manufacturer, there is no reason your metal roofing can’t contribute to your building’s sustainable future.
The Push For Solar
In Florida, where MaintenX is headquartered, state and local governments are making a big push to convert roofing to solar. This is a critical part of the transition into a sustainable future.
By investing in solar panels, you produce some of the energy you use on your own. This can reduce your energy needs tremendously. Coupled with wind and other sustainable forms of energy, your building can come close to zero emissions in the future.
Roofing isn’t the only frontier in sustainable design. If you’d like to learn more about ways your building can reduce its environmental impact, contact MaintenX today!
