We could all do with being a little bit greener.
Consider the average energy consumption for a household in the US. This comes in at a whopping 11,000 kWh per year. To put that into perspective, the global average is around 3,500 kWh. Oh, and that same source puts China’s average at a meager 1300 kWh.
Thankfully, more and more households are becoming increasingly eco-friendly. Energy-efficient light bulbs are commonplace, natural cleaning products are growing in popularity, and people are even building homes entirely from recycled materials.
Want to do the same? Well, it turns out your roof has some serious potential.
Keep reading to discover how smart roofs can help you go the extra mile for the environment.
5 Tips for Creating Eco-Friendly Smart Roofs
Let’s get cracking with how to make your home more eco-friendly.
1. Use it for Water Collection
An obvious benefit to a roof is that it stops you from getting wet in bad weather.
But what happens to all the water run-off? Well, it typically fills your gutters, leaves your downpipes and enters the drainage system. That constitutes a major waste! All that water could be put to good use.
Install barrels at the foot of your downspouts to collect the water. Then use it how you see fit. Water your garden, create a garden pond, or clean up outside.
2. Install Solar Panels
Every roof needs a solar panel.
It’s just an epic way to make the most of the sun that shines on your house. With one, or multiple, panels in place you’ll be harnessing the sun to create energy for you. You’ll cut your consumption and bills in the process.
That’s good news all around.
3. Keep It Well-Maintained
A broken roof is good for nothing, especially the environment.
A damaged roof is a dangerous roof. It needs replacing. That means more materials and more waste. It’ll cost you money, and cost the environment too. The best way to prevent this problem is to keep your roof well-maintained.
4. Use Sustainable Materials
Some houses are built entirely from recycled, sustainable materials.
Absolutely everything has been chosen to reduce the impact on the environment. The foundations, the frame, the siding, and so on, have all been created from recycled materials.
Your roof can be exactly the same.
5. Bring It to Life
There’s nothing greener than a living roof!
Why not turn your roof into a garden in its own right? Put grass, plants, and flowers to create masses of biodiversity all above your house. It’s visually stunning as well as helpful for the environment.
The benefits aren’t just to the environment either. Green roofs provide impressive insulation. They keep the sound out, absorb pollutants such as CO2 and can work alongside solar panels too.
Time to Wrap Up
There you have it: 5 methods of creating smart roofs that help the environment.
Energy consumption is at an all-time high in the US. We all need to do our bit to reduce our carbon footprint. Oftentimes, that starts at home. Your roof provides an excellent opportunity to become extra eco-friendly!
Hopefully, the ideas above have given you some ideas for how to do it.
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