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Sustainability Starts at the Top

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Title: Sustainability Starts at the Top


1
Sustainability Starts at the Top
  • CRCA
  • 49th National Conference
  • Vancouver, June 2008

2
Buildings the Environment
  • Due to inhospitable climate Canadians spend 90
    of their time in buildings.

3
Buildings the Environment
  • 12.5 million residential homes 500,000 ICI
    buildings
  • Account for
  • 33 of Canadas energy production
  • 50 of extracted resources
  • 25 of landfill waste
  • 10 of airborne particulates
  • 35 green house gases

4
Global climate change
  • No longer a question of if, but rather how fast
    and how significant the impacts will be.

Desertification in China
5
Global CO2 levels
6
Rising Energy Costs - Peak Oil
  • Oil has been in the news a lot
  • Price of crude oil above 125 150per barrel
  • Near- record prices of gasoline at the pumps
  • Some suggest that the point of peak world oil
    production has been reached

7
Rising Energy Costs - Peak Oil
  • Once peak is reached, production drops, prices
    rise - driven by laws of supply and demand
  • U.S. oil production reached its peak in 1970 and
    has fallen steadily since

8
Shift to Energy Efficiency
  • there is a surge of interest in energy
    conservation and renewable energy
  • This has become a priority for building owners
    and developers
  • Low energy use is a key tenet of green building
  • Energy efficiency is being mandated by
    governments and regulators

9
Renewable energy
  • Passive solar and daylighting
  • Solar thermal
  • Water heating
  • Power generation
  • Photovoltaics
  • Wind power

10
Shift to Energy Efficiency and Renewables
  • Energy supply/cost
  • Downstream impacts global warming
  • Result in a new building paradigm
  • SUSTAINABILITY

11
Sustainable Construction
Phase
Deconstruction
Modifications
Maintenance Use and Operations
Design Development Planning
Resources
Land Materials Water Energy
  1. Reduce
  2. Reuse
  3. Recycle
  4. Protect nature
  5. Eliminate Hazardous Waste
  6. Life-cycle costing
  7. Quality

Principles
12
Green Building Ratings Systems
  • US/Canada Green Building Council
  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
    (LEED)
  • Building Research Establishment Environmental
    Assessment Method (BREEAM)
  • Green Globes
  • GBTool

13
Awareness of the LEEDTM Rating System
Organizations involved with Green Building
Organizations not involved with Green Building
14
Buildings the Environment
  • Roofs represent a significant portion of the
    urban footprint

15
Building Strategies
  • There is increased awareness of the role of the
    roof in energy efficiency and reducing operating
    costs
  • Up-front decisions have a huge impact on energy
    use of a building, and thus operating costs
  • Insulation
  • Air tightness
  • Surface temperature (heat flow)

16
Roof as Thermal Barrier
ASHRAE 90.1 now requires r2o in all climatic
zones in Canada
17
Roof as Air Barrier
  • In 1950s NRCC identified air leakage as a cause
    of condensation within walls

18
Roof as Air Barrier
19
Roof as Air Barrier
  • Forecasted energy savings from tightening
    building envelope (NISTIR 7238)

City Gas Savings Electrical Savings Total Savings
Bismark 1,854 1,340 26 3,195
Minneapolis 1,872 1,811 33 3,683
St. Louis 1,460 1,555 28 3,016
Phoenix 124 620 9 745
Miami 0 769 10 769
20
Roof as Air Barrier
  • U.S. Standards for Air barriers
  • ASTM E 2178
  • Standard Test Method for Air Permeance of
    Building Materials
  • ASTM E 2357
  • Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage
    of Air Barrier Assemblies
  • ASHRAE 90.1
  • Energy Standards for Buildings Except Low-Rise
    Residential Buildings

21
Roof as Air Barrier
  • CAN. Standards for Air barriers
  • CAN/ULC-S741, Standard For Air Barrier Materials
    Specification
  • CCMC Technical Guide
  • Air Barrier Systems for Exterior Walls of
    Low-Rise Buildings (CAN/ULC-S 740)
  • Test Method For Determining Air Permeance of Air
    Barrier Materials and Assemblies (Proposed)

22
Roof as Air Barrier
  • air barrier assembly testing ULC S-740
  • Testing to determine the air leakage rate of the
    air barrier assembly shall be conducted in
    accordance with ASTM E 2357.
  • The number of specimens to be tested shall be
    based on consideration of the various
    configurations of combinations and permutations
    of constructions for which the air barrier
    assembly qualification are being sought. The
    three specimens outlined in ASTM E 2357,

23
Roof as Air Barrier
ASHRAE SPC189.1P, Standard for the Design of
High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise
Residential Buildings
24
Roof as Air Barrier
Air intrusion may compromise air barrier in mech.
fastened and loosely laid ballasted roofs.
25
Roof as Air Barrier
  • 2004, SIGDERS carried out small scale testing to
    determine air leakage through roof assemblies

26
Roof as Air Barrier
  • 2004, SIGDERS carried out small scale testing to
    determine air leakage through roof assemblies

27
Roof as Air Barrier
  • NBCC (2005) recommends maximum allowable air
    leakage rate for AB assemblies of 0.15 L/sm²
    at ?75 Pa.

Assembly NBCC Calculated A/L Rate
No V/A Barrier 0.15 0.490 L/sm²
Poly V/A Barrier 0.15 0.024 L/sm²
SA V/A Barrier 0.15 0.006 L/sm²
28
Roof as Air Barrier
  • SIGDERS air leakage testing - 2005

29
Roof as Air Barrier
  • SIGDERS air leakage testing 2005
  • 5 Air Barrier assemblies tested
  • A1. Steel deck and insulation
  • A2. 2 layers of insulation
  • A3. 1 layer insulation and building paper
  • A4. 1 layer insulation and self adhering
    membrane
  • A5. 1 layer of insulation and poly

30
Roof as Air Barrier
  • SIGDERS air leakage testing - 2005

Air Leakage Rate (L/sm²)
31
Roof as Air Barrier
  • Air Barriers and Building Codes
  • First introduced in the National Building Code of
    Canada (NBCC) in 1965
  • Several U.S. states require Air barriers as part
    of Energy Code
  • ASHRAE is considering revision to 90.1 to include
    requirements for air barriers
  • Will be incorporated in the revised Canadian
    Model Energy Code

32
Roofing the Environment
33
What is a Sustainable Roof?
  • a roofing system that is designed,
    constructed, maintained, rehabilitated and
    demolished with an emphasis throughout its life
    cycle on using natural resources efficiently and
    preserving the global environment

Sustainable Low-Slope Roofing Workshop Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, 1996
34
Towards Sustainable Roofing
  • CIB W083 / RILEM 166-MRS Joint Committee on
    Roofing Materials and Systems
  • CIB Publication No. 271, 2001

http//irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/sbe/docs/SustainableRoof
ingTenetsPubli271.pdf
35
Tenets of Sustainable Roofing
  • Key areas for improvement
  • Minimize the burden on the environment
  • Conserve energy
  • Extend roof lifespan

36
Major Leaders of Sustainable Roofing
  • US/Canada Green Building Council
  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
    (LEED)
  • US Environmental Protection Agency
  • Energy Star
  • Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC)
  • ASHRAE
  • 90.1 Energy Standard for Buildings Except
    Low-rise Residential Buildings
  • 189.1 Green Building Standard

37
LEED Canada?NC
  • LEED Canada?NC
  • (new construction and major renovations)
  • Factors directly affected by roofing
  • Storm water runoff and urban heat island (UHI)
    effect.

38
LEED Canada?NC
  • LEED categories under which credits can be earned
    include
  • Sustainable Sites (SS)
  • Credit 6.1,
  • Stormwater Management for garden roofs that
    manage stormwater runoff
  • Credit 7.2
  • Heat Island Effect reflective and emissive
    roofing or garden roofs (or a combination) that
    mitigate UHIs.

39
Green Roofs
40
Green Roofs
41
Green Roofs
42
Green Roofs
43
Green Roofs
44
Green Roofs
45
Green Roofs
46
Green Roofs
  • Building Codes are silent on green roofs.
  • Green roofs are deemed part of the roof and must
    comply to Code for
  • structural loading
  • wind resistance
  • fire resistance
  • moisture protection
  • drainage

47
Green Roofs
However, there are no standardized tests for fire
and wind resistance of green roofs. Properties
are constantly changing (diurnally, seasonally
over time). Fire resistance under wet and
cool,wet conditions differ from dry, hot
conditions.
48
Green Roofs
Fully established vegetation may slow spread of
fire. Some plant types, if dead or dry, may
contribute to spread of fire. Established plant
cover with fully formed root system may add to
wind resistance. Until cover s fully
established, roof overburden may be subject to
wind scour or even blow-off.
49
Green Roofs
Garden roofs on taller buildings are more
susceptible to scour. Higher wind speeds can
aggravate windburn of plants and drying of
medium.
50
Green Roofs
  • Thin substrate sedum roofs may lose effectiveness
    over time
  • Some growing media are acidic, and do not provide
    sufficient minerals and nutrient s in the long
    term
  • May require routine fertilization
  • Thin layer sedum roofs have relatively little
    impact n water run-off and energy consumption
  • Thin layer roofs ineffective in water management
    in rainy (wet) climates

51
(No Transcript)
52
Green Roofs
In 2007, NRCA submitted a code change request to
the International Code Council (ICC) to
explicitly state that wind, fire requirements
apply to green roofs. Will be in the 2009 IBC.
CRCA requested NBCC change to add definition of
roofing to include green elements.
53
Green Roofs
54
Green Roofs
it is technically feasible to design, install
and maintain a green roof such that it performs
as well as a conventional roof or better. The
issues surrounding green roofs centre on the
cost-benefit of green roofs, the probability that
such roofs will be designed, installed and
maintained properly and the risks that may arise
if they are not. K.. Cameron Homeowners
Protection Office, BC
55
REFLECTIVE ROOFS
56
Urban Heat Island
57
Urban Heat Island Causes
  • Reduced Vegetation (56)
  • Concentration of dark, energy absorbing roof
    surfaces (38)
  • Dark, energy-absorbing surfaces for roads and
    parking lots (6)

Infrared Thermograph of Atlanta, June, 2002
58
REFLECTIVE ROOFS
  • Solar Reflectance (albedo) measures the fraction
    of solar energy that is reflected away from a
    material (0-1)
  • Solar emittance is a measurement of a materials
    ability to release absorbed solar energy (0-1).
  • Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) is a calculation
    that uses solar reflectance and solar emittance.

59
REFLECTIVE ROOFS Benefits
  • Reduce roof top temperatures
  • Reduce cooling load
  • Mitigate Urban Heat Island effect.

60
Reflective Roofs
Reflected solar radiation
Emitted IRradiation
Incident solar radiation
Convection
Roof surface
Conduction
61
REFLECTIVE ROOFS
Energy Star Program Requirements
Initial Solar Reflectance Aged Solar Reflectance
Low-slope gt 0.65 gt0. 50 (3 yr.)
Steep-slope gt0.25 gt0.15 (3 yr.)
No washing or surface preparation allowed
62
Reflective Roofs
  • Cool Roof Rating Council
  • Simply report solar reflectance and emissivity
  • Publish a Rated Product Directory
  • Materials are tested by an Accredited Independent
    Testing Laboratory
  • Initial and aged (after 3 yrs exposure)
  • Does not set standards for cool

No washing or surface preparation allowed
63
Reflective Roofs Solar Reflectance of low-slope
roofing
64
Solar Reflectance Emittance of Roofing
SR SE
Built-up roof (dark gravel) 0.15 0.9
Built-up roof (white gravel) 0.5 0.9
Mod-bit 0.2 0.95
EPDM black 0.05 0.95
Unpainted metal 0.5 0.3
Asphalt shingle (brown) 0.05 0.9
Asphalt shingle (white) 0.27 0.9
PVC (white) 0.78 0.95
Shingles that are marketed as white are grey
and not particularly cool
65
Solar Reflectance of Roofing Materials And
Temperature
66
Reflective Roofs
Highly reflective roofs get less reflective over
time and low reflective roofs become more
reflective.
Reflectance
WHITE ROOF
BLACK ROOF
Time
67
Reflective Roofs
15 loss of reflectivity due to dirt buildup in
the first year Oak Ridge National Laboratory
68
WESTERN STATESROOFING CONTRACTORSASSOCIATION
TPO UPATE WSRCA WEATHERING FARM 5TH YEAR DATA
AND TEST RESULTS ARE COMPLETE AS THE PROJECT
PROGRESSES TOWARDS THE 7TH YEAR
69
Seattle, WashingtonModerate/Wet
Las Vegas, NevadaHot/Dry
Anchorage, AlaskaCold/dry
San Antonio, TexasHot/Humid
70
Solar Reflectivity Testing
71
WSRCA Weathering Farm
72
Surface Cleaning
73
Solar Reflectivity Testing
74
Reflective Roofs
Guide For Estimating Differences in Building
Heating and Cooling Energy Due to Changes in
Solar Reflectance of a Low-Sloped Roof Griggs et
al, ORNL Prepared for U.S Department of Energy
75
Reflective Roofs
  • Several parameters to be considered when
    evaluating energy gains from reflective roofs.
  • Climate
  • Solar radiation (elevation, shading)
  • Building use and type
  • Surface area
  • Efficiency of heating and cooling equipment

76
Reflective Roofs
77
Reflective Roofs
Insulation has a greater impact on energy
efficiency than reflectivity in colder climates.
78
Reflective Roofs
The amount of insulation in the roof is critical
Fuel energy savings decrease as insulation
thickness increases
79
Reflective Roofs
80
Reflective Roofs
ASHRAE Minimum Recommended R value for
Non-residential roofs, R 20
81
Reflective Roofs
The Economics of Cool Roofing A Local and
Regional Approach James Hoff Net savings on a
25,000 sq. ft. roof in Chicago amounted to
20/yr
82
Reflective Roofs
  • The case for cool residential roofs in northern
    climates is even weaker.
  • Even in South Florida, white-painted asphalt
    roofs only save homeowners about 200 per year.

83
Reflective Roofs
  • In cold climates, where heating degree-days
    vastly outnumber cooling degree-days, their may
    be a heating penalty.

84
Reflective Roofs
  • During the winter, the solar angle is lower so
    reflectivity and absorption arent as important.
  • The days during winter months are shorter so less
    total energy is hitting the roof to be absorbed
    or reflected over the same period of time as
    during the summer.

85
Reflective Roofs
  • The ratio of cloudy to sunny is greater during
    the winter therefore not as much solar energy is
    striking the roof.
  • Snow piled up on the roof during parts of the
    winter reflects the suns energy.
  • In most instances the cost of cooling is greater
    than the cost of heating due to the type and
    efficiency of the energy sources used.

86
Sustainability Starts at the Top
87
Reflective RoofsAlternatives
Reflective roofs are not the only way to lower
peak surface temperatures. Are Ballasted
Systems Cool? Presented by A. Desjarlais of
ORNL at RCI, 2008.
88
Reflective RoofsAlternatives
  • Tested various roof systems including
  • Black roof membrane
  • White Roof
  • Ballast covered (10, 17, 24 lb/ft²)
  • Pavers (uncoated)

89
Reflective RoofsAlternatives
Tested various roof systems including
  • Ballast covered (10, 17, 24 lb/ft²)
  • Pavers (16 21 lb/ft²)
  • Black roof membrane
  • White Roof

90
Reflective RoofsAlternatives
91
Reflective RoofsAlternatives
92
Reflective RoofsAlternatives
93
Reflective RoofsAlternatives
Component Solar Reflectance
Stone .20
Pavers (uncoated) .47 - .54
White Membrane .60 -.70
Black membrane .08 - .09
94
Field Data Temperature Profile
A typical sunny summer day
Garden Roof
Reference Roof
MEM
OUT
IN
95
Reflective Roofs
ASHRAE Proposed Standard 189.1P, Standard for
the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings
Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
96
Reflective Roofs
97
Roofs and Energy
98
Roofs and Energy
Passive vs. Active energy Technology
99
Roofs and Energy
100
(No Transcript)
101
Photovoltaics (PV)
  • Photo light
  • Voltaic electricity
  • Generates renewable energy
  • PV cells made from crystalline or amorphous
    silicon

PV panels
Roof PVs are being evaluated on the Canadian
Centre for Housing Technology (CCHT)
102
How Cells Convert Sunlight to Electricity
  • Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made up of special
    materials which absorb light
  • Silicon is a semiconductor it can conduct or
    block the flow of electric current as needed

103
How Cells Convert Sunlight to Electricity
  • Silicon is placed under non-reflective glass to
    collect photons (units of electromagnetic energy)
    from the sun
  • PV cells have electric fields that guide the
    electrons to move in a certain
  • direction

104
How Cells Convert Sunlight to Electricity
  • Individual solar cells are packaged into solar
    panels that can be mounted on the roof or on the
    ground 
  • PV systems can either be standalone or
    grid-connected

105
How Cells Convert Sunlight to Electricity
  • System can be connected to the utility grid
    through a standard utility meter that tracks net
    power use

106
How Cells Convert Sunlight to Electricity
  • Grid-connected system PV cells produce power in
    parallel with the local power company using a
    utility grid to connect and distribute power to
    users

107
How Cells Convert Sunlight to Electricity
  • Solar panels absorb the suns rays, even on
    cloudy days, and convert sunlight into usable
  • electrical energy.
  • Inverter converts the
  • DC from the solar
  • panels to AC for use

108
Solar Roofs - Net Metering
  • Maximize energy output by following the sun
    throughout the day with single-axis trackers
  • When the sun goes
  • down, retrieve that
  • energy as needed

109
Solar Roofs - Net Metering
  • On sunny days electric meter spins backwards
    i.e., lend energy to the utility grid
  • When the sun
  • goes down,
  • retrieve that
  • energy as
  • needed

110
Roofs and Energy
  • Industry started with crystalline technology
  • Thin film amorphous technology is also rapidly
    expanding

111
Roofs and Energy
  • Advantages of amorphous thin film
  • Chrystalline technology energy intensive to
    produce and cut cells
  • Require rigid, heat resistant substrate
  • Amorphous PV has less a material input therefore
    lower costs
  • Amorphous PV uses wider spectrum of light
  • Circuitry and wiring in BIPV membranes is below
    the roof and protected
  • Light weight (/- 12 oz/sq. ft.)
  • APV unaffected by higher ambient temperatures.

112
Solar and Roofing Become Integrated?
  • Industrial flat roofs represent billions of
    square feet of untapped real estate.
  • Roofs were seen as a financial liability with no
    return on investment.

113
Photovoltaics (PV)
  • Conversion efficiency ranges from 7 (amorphous)
    to 15 (crystalline)
  • Can be installed
  • on both flat and
  • sloped roofs
  • Grid-connected
  • PV systems are
  • gaining popularity

114
Solar and Roofing Become Integrated?
  • Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems
    have the ability to turn a roof into
    energy-producing assets.

115
Solar and Roofing Become Integrated?
  • Can be integrated with traditional materials
    (PVC, TPO).
  • Packaged in large rolls, welded or adhered to
    membrane surface.

116
Solar and Roofing Become Integrated?
  • Flexible PV films can be integrated with a
    variety of membrane systems Mod-Bit., b.u.r.

117
Solar and Roofing Become Integrated?
  • Produce clean and secure energy for direct use by
    building operations and an attractive ROI.
  • Economical on large surface areas (lower output
    requires more area).

118
Solar RoofConsiderations
  • Solar cells can last 20 -30 years
  • Roof should last as long
  • Flashing/Detailing Capability
  • Fire Performance questions
  • Reflective cool roofing is beneficial to maximize
    solar performance. Heat reduces the output of
    power especially with rigid glass panels

119
Solar Roof
  • Reflective cool roofing is beneficial to maximize
    solar performance. Heat reduces the output of
    power especially with rigid glass panels

120
Solar Roof
  • Surface temperatures of PVs can reach up to 74C
    (165F)
  • Dissimilar coefficients of expansion

121
Solar Roof
  • Design installation requires careful planning
  • Close collaboration of all parties (design
    engineers, architect, electrical roofing
    contractors, membrane and PV manufacturers
  • Should not be installed in areas susceptible to
    high winds (corners, perimeters)

122
Solar Roof
  • Do not function well under snow frost
  • Output diminished in shorter winter days
  • Must have sufficient insulation below to prevent
    heat flow into building

123
Solar Roof
  • Roof exposure must be considered
  • Downtown locations may have restricted solar
    access
  • Large roof projections, mech. equipment
    adjoining roofs may cast shadows hindering
    performance.
  • Cannot be used on ballasted or garden roofs
  • Wiring and circuitry can be complicated and
    maintenance intensive

124
Solar Roof
  • Requires minimum number of roof penetrations

125
Recycling and End of Life Disposal
126
End of Life Disposal
127
End of Life Disposal Waste Reduction
  • reuse and recycle
  • Design systems that facilitate sorting and
    salvage of materials

Disposal of Waste by Sourcein Canada (2000)
Construction andDemolition 12
Residential36
Commercial and Institutional 52
128
End of Life Disposal
129
End of Life Disposal
130
End of Life Disposal
131
End of Life Disposal
132
End of Life Disposal
Recycling of EPDM
Over 20 billion sq. ft. of EPDM in place in
U.S. EPDM Roofing Association (ERA) launched
several pilot projects to determine feasibility
of recycling
133
Recycling
Recycling of EPDM
Membrane, minus adhered flashings and lap seams,
was folded and carried to waiting pallets on the
roof-top and from there delivered to processing
plant for grinding
During the second grind, it was found that a
vacuum hood removes almost all the dirt product
found in the first-grind product
134
End of Life Disposal
Recycling of EPDM
In another project the membrane was been removed
from this roof and sent to a processing plant
where it will be resynthesized into virgin
EPDM product for reuse.
135
Recycling
Recycling of EPDM
The key unresolved factor is that the companies
that provide synthesizers and grinders indicate
they must know the volume of anticipated product
during the coming years. ERA is encouraging
more building owners and contractors to provide
material for recycling.
136
Recycling
Recycling of PVC
PVC was always recyclable Until recently
recycling was too intensive to be
worthwhile Non-PVC materials incorporated in the
membrane (reinforcement scrim or felt) New
technology, grinders can separate scrim or felt
New separating technologies using solvents -
Vinyloop.
137
Recycling
Recycling of PVC
PVC roofing membranes made up 62 of roofing
materials used in Europe ROOFCOLLECT was launched
in 2003as the European solution for the recycling
of post-the new collecting and recycling
initiative for end-of-life roofing membranes. In
2004 2005 over 1,300 tons of post-consumer PVC
roof membrane was successfully recycled
138
Recycling
Post-consumer recycling began in the U.S. in
1999. Only mechanically attached or loose laid
have been reprocessed No experience with
membranes adhered to insulation Savings in
disposal fees and the value of the salvaged
materials have generally exceeded the cost of the
additional labor, shipping and grinding fees.
Total net costs depend on roofing square
footage, distance the old roof must be shipped
for processing, and landfill tipping fees,
139
Recycling
Recycling of Flexible Membranes
  • Unique challenges to recycling
  • wider range of different and incompatible
    materials
  • a less developed collection infrastructure
  • more varied end products
  • lower overall volumes of materials, particularly
    on an individual grade basis
  • much wider range of attached foreign materials
    such as metal, rubber, foams, fabrics, etc.

140
Recycling
Recycling of Flexible Membranes
  • Unique challenges.
  • requires high quality reclamation in the
    tear-down, reprocessing efficiency and a ready
    customer base for the recycled product.
  • Need to address the training of roofing
    contractors in the logistics of tearing down the
    roof system for recycling instead of landfill
    disposal.
  • More handling is involved, as the contractor must
    separate the membrane from other waste materials
    and prepare it for shipping off the site.

141
Recycling
Recycling of Flexible Membranes
Unique challenges. For best results, the
processor needs to receive a membrane free of
foreign materials like stone ballast and metal
fasteners. Issue Processing Many processors
can grind reclaimed materials, but for flexible
membranes to be size reduced to chunks or a
powder, equipment that can separate such
components as felt backing material and the
reinforcing polyester matrix is needed
142
Recycling
Recycling of Flexible Membranes
Developing a customer base for the recycled
product and a viable collection infrastructure
143
Green Products?
  • Greenwash
  • A Take-off on Whitewash
  • Superficial and Unreliable Dissemination of
    Environmental Hype
  • Environmental Guides
  • Requires Depth of Knowledge of Products
  • Education is Protection

144
Green Products?
  • Greenwash
  • 1. Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off
  • Emphasizing one environmental issue isnt a
    problem (indeed, it often makes for better
    communications). The problem arises when hiding a
    trade-off between environmental issues.
  • e.g. Wood fibre roof board comes from a renewable
    resource (trees) but the plants poor
    environmental controls pollutes the river with
    chlorine effluence.

145
Green Products?
  • Greenwash
  • 2. Sin of No Proof
  • The claim is not verifiable.
  • e.g. Epicor, a manufacturer of solar roof panels
    claimed that the horizontal roof panels shielded
    the membrane, adding 15 to 25 years to the life
    of the roof.

146
Green Products?
  • Greenwash
  • 3. Sin of Vagueness
  • Watch for other popular vague green terms
    non-toxic, all-natural, environmentally-frien
    dly, and earth-friendly.

147
Green Products?
  • Greenwash
  • 4. Sin of Irrelevance
  • e.g. CFC free insulations. Many insulations
    never used CFC in their production.

148
Green Products?
  • Greenwash
  • 5. Sin of Lesser of Two Evils
  • e.g. Asbestos free roof coatings that contain a
    high ratio of solvents with high VOC content.

149
Green Products?
  • Greenwash
  • 6. Sin of Fibbing
  • e.g. Materials certified 100 recyclable,,
    but for which there is no credible certification.
  • The most frequent examples are false uses of
    bogus third-party certifications.
  • Legitimate third-party certifiers EcoLogoCM,,),
    Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), all maintain
    publicly available lists of certified products.
    Some even maintain fraud advisories for products
    that are falsely claiming certification.

150
Conclusion
  • The Roofing Industry is in the forefront of
    sustainable construction
  • Roofs will be required to do more than just keep
    the rain out
  • It is important not to sacrifice technical
    performance for environmental goals
  • Many road s lead to Rome

151
Conclusion
  • Prediction is very difficult, especially about
    the future.
  • - Niels Bohr
  • The only thing we now about the future is that
    it will be different.
  • - Peter F. Drucker
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