Jan 27 2010
The sustainable building movement is spreading beyond biodegradable products or energy efficient home appliances since it is encouraging the development of new codes and laws all over the country and at the same time creating fresh opportunities for companies to reduce their total impact on the environment. One such opportunity is the utilization of sustainable roofing systems by these companies.
Simon Roofing is a roofing manufacturing and installation company that helps other companies to find energy-efficient and environmentally friendly roofing systems. Brian Dolansky, Environmental Director at Simon Roofing, remarked that it is important for companies to discover sustainable roofing systems as it will enable a company or a building to reduce its total impact on the environment and on human health.
Sustainable roofing options utilized by various companies will promote efficient usage of water, resources and energy and it will also protect the health of the employees and reduce pollution and the amount of waste generated by these companies.
Companies are provided with three different roofing options that include sustainable roofs, vegetable roofs and reflective or “cool” roofs. Sustainable roofs consist of recyclable and reusable roofing materials. Vegetable roofs can be used for storm water pollution and runoff. Reflective or “cool” roofs help in reducing energy costs.
Companies can also reduce their impact on the environment through the usage of roofing products that include non hazardous or non toxic chemicals and sustainable materials. These roofing products include SuperiorFlex Eco from Simon Roofing. This product uses rubber that can be recycled and it contains no ozone-depleting chemicals that are also known as volatile organic compounds.
Sustainable roofing thus provides opportunities for cost savings and environmental protection. Orin Ponchak, Account Manager at Simon Roofing, played a vital role to divert 80,000 pounds of PVC roofing membrane from being disposed of in a landfill. This was possible because of the sustainable services program started by Ponchak, which helped in removing the roof membrane and sending it to a recycling facility for reprocessing.
Dolansky stated that simple corporate sustainability practices can be performed by the companies each day that will enable them to reduce their impact on the environment. A sustainability audit performed by Simon Roofing on the company’s practices resulted in the development the company’s Corporate Sustainability Policy. The in-house recycling program conducted by Simon Roofing lead to a 50 percent reduction in the output of waste materials and the elimination of the purchase of non-recyclable products. Dolansky said that the company’s sustainability practices demonstrate its commitment to reduce the impact on the environment.