Sustainable Cities Natural Roofing

These roofs are also often called living roofs because they have plant life growing on them and they are great sustainable roofing options.

Sustainable cities natural roofing.

If you elect to install a green roof you can install native or non native vegetation on the roofing surface. Oddly enough one of the most sustainable roofing products is clay tile. These roofing materials are natural but very durable. They can last up to one century.

As these and other award winning buildings boost their profile green roofs are increasingly recognised as neither wacky nor whimsical. Whether wood metal or rubber you can choose from a variety of durable and eco friendly roofing materials. Of course that assumes the roofing comes from sustainably harvested sources. Wood shakes and shingles are arguably the most and perhaps only sustainable roofing materials because wood is a sustainable resource.

Shakes and shingles are fairly energy intensive to produce and are only moderately durable much less than slate and clay tile. Most of the shingles sold today are made from recycled content such as plastic wood fiber and rubber. Nowadays there are light colored clay tiles which offer the benefits of a cool roof system. Asphalt shingles aren t your only option.

Natural clay is available in a variety of colors and manufacturers may add tints and glazing to extend the range of color options. Shingle roof from recycled materials. New york s equivalent the via verde green way social housing project due to open in early 2012 offers another beacon for sustainable urban renewal bringing rooftop gardens to the heart of the south bronx.