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Showing posts with label Green Roofing News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Green Roofing News. Show all posts

11.10.2011

Recycling Building Materials in St Louis


Earlier this year I was asked to replace a leaking roof on a Patio of an Investment Property.  The job consisted of Removing the existing Mound City Clay Roof Tiles from the Porch Roof and replacing with Certain Teed 3 Tab-Shingles (Energy Star Rated). 

Rather than dispose of the Clay Roof Tiles in the local  landfill I choose to "Recycle" the roof tiles and am happy to report that they went to a good home and will be re-installed on future roofs by: "Old World Roofing Company Slate and Tile Specialists"

Mound City Clay Roof Tiles Recycled by Scotts Contracting
Mound City Clay Roof Tiles Recycled by Scotts Contracting
While I was at Old World Roofing Company and speaking with the business owner, Mr. Hagerty.  We discussed the aspects of his business that has his business backlogged with future projects into 2012.  I jumped at the opportunity to discuss and learn the various aspects that have made his business a success.  And was thrilled to learn that the things that have made his business a success are the same principles that I incorporate into my small business:
"Honesty and hard work, prompt customer service, keeping the customer informed of the progress on the job, and providing quality work!"
We also discussed the aspects that make the Clay Roofing tiles a Green and Sustainable product.  Clay Roofing Tiles-
  • are traditionally made from locally available materials such as clay.
  • Clay as a building material is one of the oldest building materials on Earth, among other ancient, naturally occurring geologic materials such as stone and organic materials like wood. Between one-half and two-thirds of the world's population, in traditional societies as well as developed countries, still live or work in a building made with clay as an essential part of its load-bearing structure.re-posted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay#Clay_as_a_building_material

  • Clay minerals are typically formed over long periods of time by the gradual chemical weathering of rocks, usually silicate-bearing, by low concentrations of carbonic acid and other diluted solvents. These solvents, usually acidic, migrate through the weathering rock after leaching through upper weathered layers. In addition to the weathering process, some clay minerals are formed by hydrothermal activity. Clay deposits may be formed in place as residual deposits in soil, but thick deposits usually are formed as the result of a secondary sedimentary deposition process after they have been eroded and transported from their original location of formation. Clay deposits are typically associated with very low energy depositional environments such as large lakes and marine deposits.re-posted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay

In keeping with the Title of the Article: " Recycling is not just for Cans " I'd also like to point out that recycling also saves:

"Landfill Space, Reducing the Energy to manufacture new products ie: Reducing Global Warming, and re-using building products in the construction industry will also save you money." 

I encourage everyone to Re-use and Re-cycle!  If you are interested in recycling options on your next building project (St Louis Area) Scotts Contracting offers many options for recycling the building materials  and many times are tax deductible for added savings on your project.  Feel free to drop me a quick note by using the Contact form below and Scotty, Scotts Contracting will return your request asap.

9.04.2010

Solar Roofing News

Global Solar Energy Rolls Out the Most Powerful Flexible Module to Roofing Industry; The PowerFLEX(TM) BIPV Revolutionizes Solar Roofing; Large, 300 Watt Module Offers Flexible, Lightweight and Easy-to-Install Design



Business Wire
August 31, 2010
Global Solar Energy, Inc. , a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CIGS) solar material, today unveiled its flexible building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) module: the PowerFLEX(TM) BIPV. Specially designed for commercial and industrial rooftops, PowerFLEX BIPV modules can deliver more power per rooftop than any other solar solution. With the PowerFLEX BIPV module, rooftops can quickly and cost effectively start generating clean energy.

Global Solar will showcase its PowerFLEX BIPV at the 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (25th EU PVSEC) / 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC-5), September 6-9 in Valencia, Spain.

With 12.6 percent aperture efficiency, Global Solar PowerFLEX BIPV delivers the highest efficiency in the flexible module industry. The module has a large format (5.75m x 0.5m) and a high power density (300W) enabling it to outperform other flexible solar roofing solutions currently on the market, including 50 percent more energy and power than the current amorphous silicon standard.

Global Solar's PowerFLEX BIPV module directly addresses the biggest concerns posed by the roofing industry regarding solar integration. It is lightweight and can be applied directly to a roofing surface, requiring no mounting hardware, no roof penetrations, and creates no additional wind load. Designed especially for roofs, Global Solar's PowerFLEX BIPV maintains the integrity and aesthetics of a building structure. Because of its large format and high power density, Global Solar's PowerFLEX BIPV will also lower installation and balance of system (BOS) costs.

Although traditional glass solar modules are too heavy for many commercial applications, they have been one of the few options available to the building industry for solar energy generation. Unlike conventional glass modules, which are heavy, rigid and typically installed at an angle on racks, PowerFLEX BIPV modules are lightweight and flexible, and installed flat directly on the roofing surface. This allows the modules to cover a greater amount of rooftop space that, depending on the location of the building, can equate to 50-100 percent more power and energy per rooftop than a tilted solar array. This advantage is particularly acute at higher latitudes.

"At Global Solar, we recognized that the building industry has not been able to fully optimize the real estate on the rooftop with solar solutions currently available," said Dr. Jeff Britt, CEO of Global Solar Energy. "We worked closely with roofing professionals when we designed the PowerFLEX BIPV, and their experience mattered to us. Leveraging their input, we now offer a high-powered module that will create the most powerful rooftops in the world."

Industry research is showing that the BIPV market is heating up. Lux Research reported that by 2013 the BIPV market will reach $5.7 billion. Solutions that will succeed are ones that meet the power, design and cost requirements set by the building and roofing industries.

About Global Solar Energy
Since its founding in 1996, Global Solar has emerged as the leader in flexible Copper Indium Gallium diSelenide (CIGS) thin film solar cell technology. CIGS thin film technology is lightweight and highly efficient. Global Solar's thin film solar cells are incorporated into a variety of applications ranging from lightweight portable solar chargers, traditional glass solar modules, and now building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products and designs.

Global Solar manufactures CIGS cells in two full scale facilities in Tucson, Arizona, USA and in Berlin, Germany, and distributes worldwide.

Photos/MultimediaGallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6411927&lang=en
 
Copyright 2010 Business Wire, Inc.
Business Wire


--
Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com

6.12.2010

Green & Eco Friendly Roofing Options

Eco-friendly Roofing OptionsChoose from a variety of durable and environmentally friendly roofing materials.  Let Scott's Contracting supply a FREE Green Roofing Estimate for your next roof. 

Scotts Contracting offers Roofing Options that carry a "LIFE TIME GUARANTY" with prices that Start at $5 / SQ FT

Email: scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
roofing
Most homeowners have to replace their roof shingles at some point. Exposed to sunlight, heat, cold, rain, wind, and sometimes snow, sleet and hail, conventional asphalt shingle roofs last 20 years, if you're lucky.

Recycled Shingles

Among the most popular — and perhaps the "greenest" — of all roofing products are shingles made from recycled waste materials, such as plastic, rubber or wood fiber. Some products are made from clean post-consumer waste (waste from homes), others from post-industrial waste (factory waste). Recycled-content shingles are amazingly durable, and they look nice, too. You'd never know they were made from "waste" materials!
Recycled-content roof shingles help divert waste from landfills and reduce our need to extract and process raw materials, which lowers energy consumption and reduces pollution. Some of these products are recyclable, too, and many come with amazing 50-year warranties. A few even carry fire ratings that could lower your insurance rates.

Wood Shingles and Shakes

In many parts of the country, wood shingles and shakes have long been a popular choice among builders and homeowners. Unfortunately, conventional wood shingles are made from old-growth western cedar. Although the amount of energy it takes to produce this product is relatively low, the harvest of old-growth trees is not sustainable in the long run. These shingles are also quite combustible and can no longer be used in areas where there is a risk of brush and forest fires.
If you would like to install wood roof shingles and local building codes permit them, consider a product made from reclaimed lumber. The Armster Reclaimed Lumber Co. in Connecticut, for example, makes roof shingles using wood reclaimed from mills, bridges, old water and wine tanks, and a number of other sources. This company acquires old wood throughout the country and makes an effort to process it locally — close to where you purchase the product — to reduce costs and transportation energy.
Another environmentally friendly wood shingle is produced by Maibec Industries in eastern Canada. The company harvests sustainably grown (certified by the Forest Stewardship Council) eastern white cedar trees to produce shakes and shingles. These are most commonly used for siding, but they can be used for roofs, if installed according to the company's recommendations.
If you'd like a roof that will outlast a conventional asphalt shingle roof and is made from environmentally friendly roofing materials, consider the products outlined here. Many of them are virtually immune to hail. Green roofing products are many and varied, ranging from recycled-plastic shingles to recycled-metal roofs to sustainably harvested or reclaimed wood roofs. The best option for your home depends on the design of your home, local building codes and price considerations.

Slate and Clay Tiles

Slate is a natural material and produces an extremely durable roof tile — one that can last hundreds of years. Several companies offer slate tiles, and one company offers a 100- year warranty, a deal that will expire long after most of us.
Mining slate and transporting it to market is an energy-intensive process, but several slate roof tile manufacturers offer salvaged slate and clay roof tiles. Durable Slate in Ohio sells both. Clay tiles also are a highly durable roofing material, although they won't last as long as slate.

Metal Roofing

Many metal roofing products include at least some recycled material, but one advantage of metal roofing is that it can be recycled at the end of its life. Because metal roofs can last up to 50 years, roofing replacement is less frequent, which means less waste in the long run. They offer exceptional durability and fire-resistance, and they're ideal for those who want to collect rainwater from their roofs to water gardens (or for household uses). You don't have to worry about chemicals that might leach from a conventional asphalt roof. Standing-seam metal roofs work nicely as the base for thin-film photovoltaic panels, too.
Metal roofs are great in snowy climates because they allow snow to slide off, which prevents ice dams from forming. (Ice dams can damage roofs of improperly insulated homes.) To protect walkways from snow sliding off the roof, you'll need to install snow bars or a similar device over walkways, garage doors and entryways.
Another recycled roof material is reinforced rubber shingles made from old steel-belted radial tires. The material is coated with ground slate for texture and comes in a variety of colors. A big advantage to this material is a long life and a 50-year warranty, including against hail and other extreme weather. Verify with your local building department that rubber roofs are permitted in your area before choosing this option.

Roofing Tips

Roofing is not a job for the inexperienced. It involves working at dangerous heights — possibly on steep slopes — and lifting heavy materials. Roofing requires a considerable amount of knowledge and skill, too. So, unless you've done this kind of work before, are skilled in carpentry, and perhaps have guidance from a professional roofer, this is a job best left to the pros. Read up on safety precautions before you consider doing any roof work, and never work alone.
There's a wide variety of eco-friendly roofing products, so compare your options carefully. Be sure to check the materials' fire ratings, hail ratings and warranties. Call your insurance agent to see whether the product you're considering will qualify you for a discount on your homeowner's insurance.
To re-roof your home, you'll likely need to obtain a building permit and pass an inspection. Be sure your building department approves the shingle product you've selected before you lay your money down!
Although the products discussed in this article offer many benefits, they do have some downsides. Some of them are not as widely available as conventional roofing products, so you may have to shop around to find the option you want. Many green building material outlets sell roofing products. Green Building Products: The GreenSpec Guide to Residential Building Materials provides a helpful listing of environmentally friendly products and manufacturers.
You may also have to shop around to find a roofing contractor who is familiar with the product you're interested in using. Some of these products are relatively new to the market and, although they've been tested, not many roofers have experience with them. When shopping for an environmentally friendly shingle, try to talk to roofers who have installed it, not just to a salesperson. Also ask your roofing contractor whether your old asphalt shingles can be recycled. Some companies grind asphalt shingles to create products for roadway maintenance and repair.

Additional Notes
: If you're interested in a slate or clay tile roof, either new or recycled, remember the framing of your roof needs to be strong enough to support the weight of these tiles, which can be substantial. You may need to consult with a structural engineer or with your building department to determine whether your framing is up to the task.

The Cost of a Metal Roof vs. Other Options
Eco-friendly roofing products typically cost more than asphalt shingles — sometimes two to four times more — but you most likely get a product that will outlast two or three conventional roofs, saving you substantially over the long term. You may also qualify for lower insurance rates. These benefits add value to your home, whether you stay there or sell it, and you're also helping promote a healthier, more sustainable world.
Metal roof cost estimate: Installation of standing-seam metal roofing on 2,500-squarefoot, two-story house (area of the roof estimated at 1,500 square feet), does not include cost of removing old shingles:
Cost for materials only: $6,300
Contractor's total, including materials, labor and markup: $9,800 (about $6.53 per square foot)
Other options, per square foot installed:
Laminated, asphalt, 30-year shingles: $3.15
Cedar shingles: $6.65
Clay tile: $9.20
Costs are national averages and do not include sales tax.

Cool Roofs That Reduce Air-Conditioning Bills

Consider a cool roofing material if you live in a hot, sunny climate. Cool roofs reflect heat instead of absorb it, which helps make your home more comfortable and reduce air conditioning costs. Check with your local building department or neighborhood association for possible roof color restrictions.

Let Scott's Contracting supply a FREE Green Roofing Estimate for your next roof. 
Scotts Contracting offers Roofing Options that carry a "LIFE TIME GUARANTY" with prices that Start at $5 / SQ FT

Email: scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com




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