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the cost can be high.
• In fact, cost effectiveness is a barrier
that all recycling programs must
overcome before they become practical.
This includes the geography of recycling
– how far, and at what cost,
should recyclable materials be transported
before the environmental tradeoff
becomes negative? Still, most environmentalists
argue that the cost effectiveness
of recycling is a matter of critical
mass – the more we do it, the less
costly it will become.
• The use of recycled content in certain
modified bitumen roofing systems
can also contribute to an overall reduction
of waste going to landfills.
One way of determining if a roof
system is sustainable is whether or not
it qualifies for points under the U.S.
Green Building Council’s LEED Green
Building Rating System. LEED is a
voluntary, consensus-based national
standard for developing high-performance,
sustainable buildings. While
LEED does not certify products, buildings
can earn LEED certification.
Under the current standard, LEED
version 2.2 credit categories include:
• Sustainable Sites
• Stormwater Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Innovation and Design Process
HPR 2B: ENVIRONMENT/INTERNAL
One of the more neglected aspects
of roofing is the positive impact it can
have on a comfortable, healthy, productive
environment inside buildings,
where many people spend most of their
days. A High-Performance Roofing
system can contribute to a better indoor
environment in two ways:
(1) Cool, green and perhaps solarintegrated
HPR systems help to moderate
indoor temperatures, even in
buildings without air conditioning. A
number of studies have shown a direct
relationship between thermal comfort
and worker productivity in offices and
manufacturing facilities. Comfortable
indoor temperatures have been shown
to improve overall mental concentration,
manual work rates, and manual
dexterity, while reducing accident rates
and absenteeism.
(2) Vented roofing systems can help
reduce moisture and mould while relieving
positive air press, allowing
buildings to “breathe.”
22 Canadian Roofing Contractor & Design - APRIL / MAY 2007
HPR 3: ENDURANCE
Many factors affecting the durability
and longevity of roofing systems
are beyond our control, such
as climate, catastrophic accidents and
violent storms. In terms of High-Performance
Roofing, endurance is the
ultimate reflection of the performance
of every roofing component or
element that can be controlled by intelligent
design, manufacture, installation
and maintenance.
Most green building experts believe
that longevity is among the most important
factors contributing to the
sustainability of any building product,
including roofing systems. Long-lasting