Ways To Go Green Around The Home This Spring

Phil's Main Roofing 

26 Fitch Street, Norwalk CT

(203) 838-4545

www.philsmainroofing.com

Although the push to "go green" is ever present all 365 days of the year, April is an especially important month since Earth Day is celebrated on the 22nd. And since the 22nd is just over one week away, now is the perfect time to start incorporating eco-friendly actions into your daily routines if you haven't already!

Check out the below list for five ways that you can go green at home in honor of this monthly observance:

1. Unplug all electronics when they aren't in use. Although turning them off might seem like enough, if they are still connected to an outlet, they are still drawing power. If you would prefer not to unplug larger electronics such as your TV, plug their main cord into a power strip so that you can easily turn the strip off.
2. Address any leaks that you have been putting off getting fixed. While you may not think that an occasional drip from your faucet is a big deal, every occurrence is a waste of water. Then, once you're done fixing leaks that are a result of your plumbing, don't forget to address any leaks coming from your roof! At Phil's Main Roofing, we offer leak detection and repair services that can certainly come in handy.
3. Upgrade major appliances to products that have an Energy Star label. Items like your stove or washing machine are only given this label if they meet certain criteria, so you can rest assured knowing that your home will be much more energy efficient.
4. Avoid doing the wash unless you have a full load of dirty laundry available. Same goes for the dishes - unless your dishwasher is full, wait until you have more utensils and place settings to be cleaned before turning it on.
5. Replace all of your current lightbulbs with CFL ones. Not only do these types of lightbulbs typically last longer, but they also consume much less energy than your standard bulbs (about 75% less, according to Good Housekeeping). 

One last thing...

If you're making any updates to your home in terms of remodeling, such as redoing your roof, don't forget to ask about eco-friendly products and find out if your old roof can be recycled!

Phil's Main Roofing is a fully licensed and insured roofing company serving residential and commercial customers in Connecticut and New York. To schedule an appointment for your FREE estimate, please click here or call (203) 838-4545.

Going Green With A "Green" Roof

Phil's Main Roofing 

(203) 838-4545

www.philsmainroofing.com

A green roof, also known as a rooftop garden, is a layer of plants, flowers, or other vegetation that grows on a roof top. This living layer may cover all or part of a building's roof, and it is usually planted over material that has already been waterproofed. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, this type of roof provides shade and helps to reduce temperatures of the roof surface and surrounding air by the way it can remove heat through a process known as evapotranspiration.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

There are many approaches to installing a green roof since there are many things you have to consider. The first of course, is does the architecture of your roof permit for vegetation? Once you've established that your building can sustain a green roof, it is time to decide what kinds of plant life you will include. Thanks to the EPA, in honor of Earth Day, here are some benefits and costs of installing a green roof:

Benefits:

• Reduced Energy Use: Since green roofs absorb heat they act as insulators for their buildings. Ultimately, this reduces the amount of energy needed to provide cooling and heating to your home or building.
• Reduced Pollution: By acting as an insulator, green roofs lead to lower demand for air conditioning. This means that the amount of time you leave your air conditioner on throughout the summer months is reduced. Therefore, green roofs reduce the amount of pollution that is emitted from your cooling system.
• Improved Water Management: Green roofs can slow down or even reduce any storm water runoff that would otherwise occur after a rain storm. Green roofs can also filter pollutants that are emitted during rainfall.

Costs:

The cost of installing a green roof typically starts at $10 per square foot for simple roofs and $25 per square foot for more extensive roofs. Additionally, green roofs also require extra annual maintenance, which can range from $0.75-$1.50 per square foot. Although the cost of installing a green roof tends to be higher than other materials, they prove to be financially friendly in the long run since they can reduce energy costs.

At Phil's Main Roofing, we offer services such as new construction, modified roofing, structural repair, preventative maintenance programs and more to both the commercial and residential sectors. We are a a fully licensed and insured roofing company that has been in business for over 65 years. Our team of professional roofers will work with you to install the top roofing brands and will make sure your roof is built to last. Call us at (203) 838-4545 for your FREE estimate or visit us online at www.philsmainroofing.com for more information.