___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sustainability
According to the World Green Building Council, the construction sector accounts for nearly 40 percent of global carbon emissions, and that figure has put every corner of the industry under a microscope. Architects, developers, and builders are being asked by clients, regulators, and homeowners themselves to substantiate the sustainability claims attached to the products they specify. That scrutiny is healthy, but it has also exposed a problem. Much of what gets marketed as‘ green’ in building materials falls short of its claims.
This is especially important when considering roofing. A roof is one of the most replacement prone and resource intensive elements of the building envelope, and a decision homeowners may have to make every 15- 20 years depending on their choice. Moving past greenwashing in roofing means going beyond“’ what is it made of?’ and asking‘ how long will it actually perform?’
Recycled content alone doesn’ t equal sustainability
Sustainability is broad and doesn’ t just encompass recycling; it’ s also about durability and a product’ s lifecycle impact. Recycled content is important, but claims are easy to print on a spec sheet and the substance behind them isn’ t always as easy to verify.
modernhb. com 21