# What is Sustainable Roofing?

- Link: https://mycoastalwindows.com/what-is-sustainable-roofing/
- Published: 2022-06-23T07:07:30-04:00
- Author: Jeremy Wood

When upgrading to a new roof, many homeowners wonder about the most environmentally
friendly roofing material in New England. Sustainability is an important consideration.

After all, you don’t want old roofing waste to take up space in the landfill for
decades to come. But what is the most environmentally friendly roofing material 
in New England?

In this blog, we’ll show you what it means to have a sustainable roof including 
shingle materials, ventilation, and more.

![sustainable roof in New England](https://mycoastalwindows.com/wp-content/uploads/
2025/01/sustainable-roof.webp)

## What Makes Roofing Materials Sustainable?

The good news is that there are eco-friendly roofing materials to consider. The 
most environmentally friendly roofing material is undoubtedly asphalt shingles. 
There are several reasons why asphalt shingles are an eco-friendly roofing product,
such as:

 * Asphalt shingles are **incredibly durable against the elements**, which means
   you won’t need to worry about **a replacement more than once in your life when
   you select quality shingles.**
 * When coupled with the GAF Golden Pledge Lifetime warranty, the lifetime of your
   roof is about 5 times longer than the typical roofing warranty in New England.
   Estimated to protect your home for up to 50 years, the warranty applies to labor
   as well as materials and shingles, which are covered for a lifetime.

Backed by a strong warranty, asphalt shingles become the most environmentally friendly
[roofing material in New England](https://mycoastalwindows.com/roofing/). After 
all, they last for nearly an entire lifetime. This is the best way to ensure that
old roofing waste is kept out of the landfill!

You can learn more about our product warranties by viewing the video below:

## Other Reasons Why New England Homeowners Love Asphalt Roofing

We are big asphalt advocates here at Coastal Windows & Exteriors. Asphalt is one
of the best roofing materials for several reasons. 

 * **Asphalt shingles are a cost-effective option for roofing.** If you need an 
   upgrade without breaking the bank, asphalt is a no-brainer option.
 * You can easily find Energy Star-certified asphalt roofing to help **lower your
   utility bills**, especially shingles that are lighter in color.
 * Asphalt roofing, when installed correctly, can take a beating from the elements.
   The asphalt shingles from Coastal Windows & Exteriors can withstand high winds
   of 130 mph, which begins with the installation of starter strip shingles—the 
   first layer of shingles to go on your roof.
 * This type of roof is **fast and easy to install**, giving you a new durable roof
   sooner rather than later.

Another advantage of choosing asphalt is the large variety of color options. While
[vinyl siding](https://mycoastalwindows.com/vinyl-siding/vinyl-siding-in-peabody-ma/)
is one of the best ways to transform the exterior of your home, a new roof can truly
help do the same.

According to [Better Homes & Gardens](https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/exteriors/roofs/roof-designs-styles/),
a dark-colored roof will minimize your home’s mass while downplaying the highest
peaks of your roof. Light-colored roofing will make your home look bigger with a
taller roof.

## Improve Your Carbon Footprint with Energy Efficient Roofing

What makes for an energy-efficient roof? One of the major factors of a worry-free
roof installation process is considering ventilation. **A properly ventilated roof
and attic is key for performance and energy savings**.

You will want to ask your [roofing contractor](https://mycoastalwindows.com/roofing-company/roofing-in-brookline-ma/)**
if you will need new ventilation** and where that will be installed. Typical ventilation
for roofing is installed on the soffit and on the top of the roof along the gable.

With ventilation in place, it reduces worry about potential problems such as condensation
on rafter beams that can [turn into mold, mildew, and even wood rot](https://mycoastalwindows.com/the-3-dangers-of-leaky-and-outdated-roofs/).

![New England roofing material](https://mycoastalwindows.com/wp-content/uploads/
2025/01/new-england-roofing-material.webp "New England roofing material")

### Other Components of an Eco-Friendly Roof 

There are several important roof components that you’ll need to know about, and 
you can find an [inclusive list of those by clicking here](https://mycoastalwindows.com/what-are-the-most-important-components-for-roof-replacement-in-new-england/).
The best roofing systems are capable of increasing indoor temperatures and even 
lowering energy bills. 

An energy efficient roof includes several working components such as:

 * **Adequate ventilation**. Homes without proper roof and attic ventilation can
   result in very high energy bills, especially during the winter and summer. When
   there is no airflow in the attic, the heat can ultimately damage the roof shingles
   above. Meanwhile, the air conditioning system is working harder to compensate
   for the hot attic while your main living area remains cool. When it comes to 
   roof attic ventilation, there are three types of vents: soffit vents, gable vents,
   and ridge vents.
 * **Roof deck protection **provides a barrier to both water and air infiltration.
   It protects the home while reducing moisture that can make the attic space humid
   during the summer months, which can make an impact on your heating and cooling
   bills.
 * **Synthetic roof deck protection **provides a second layer of protection to defend
   against roof rot.
 * **The color of the shingles. **Shingle color can impact the temperature of an
   attic space, even if the roof is otherwise considered energy efficient. Cool 
   roofing reflects the sun’s rays and can make the roof temperature 50°F cooler
   when the [surface reaches 150F](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-efficient-home-design/cool-roofs)
   °.

The last consideration to keep in mind is how your roofing contractor handles roofing
waste when it comes to replacement. Properly recycling asphalt roofing is important
to us here at Coastal Windows & Exteriors, which is why we are a certified GAF Certified
Green Roofer.

![GAF Green Roofer](https://mycoastalwindows.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/gafgreenroof.
webp "GAF Green Roofer")

## What is a GAF Certified Green Roofer?

The requirements for becoming a [GAF Certified Green Roofer](https://mycoastalwindows.com/gaf-green-certified-roofer/)
are as follows:

 * The completion of a sustainability assessment
 * Completing the “Asphalt Shingles and the Green Home” course through GAF CZZ
 * Joining the local USGBC chapter
 * The roofing contractor must complete a quarterly recycling activity report

You can read all about our GAF Green Roofer certification by [clicking here](https://mycoastalwindows.com/gaf-green-certified-roofer/).

![roofing company in Weston MA](https://mycoastalwindows.com/wp-content/uploads/
2025/01/weston-ma-roofing-company.webp "roofing company in Weston MA")

## Get Asphalt Roofing Shingles: An Eco-Friendly Roof Material 

What is the most eco-friendly [roofing material in New England](https://mycoastalwindows.com/roofing/)?
It’s asphalt! We provide New England homeowners with quality GAF roofing systems
that are engineered with sustainability in mind while lasting a lifetime. 

Contact us today to schedule[ a FREE estimate](https://mycoastalwindows.com/promotions/)
on eco-friendly roofing.

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