Welcome to Our Blog/Feed
We are glad you are here. We have created this blog for people who are interested in metal roofing and green living in general.
Our intention here is to provide you, the homeowner, with pertinent information toward making your home green. This will be about more than metal roofing. We will attempt to bring you current content on green energy related improvements for your home and technology that is good for the planet from around the globe.
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greenblog@classicmetalroofs.com
September 29th, 2011
“The Internal Revenue Service allows homeowners to apply for a tax credit after making energy-efficient home improvements. Roof replacement, in some cases, can enhance the energy efficiency of a home and may qualify for a tax credit,” explained Steve Keirstead, co-owner of RemodelPros.com parent company West Coast Vinyl, Inc.
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Roof replacement must be completed on the homeowner’s primary residence with materials that meet IRS requirements for energy-efficient homes. Those materials include metal roofs with specially pigmented coatings designed to reflect sunlight and asphalt roofs that contain cooling granules.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/9/prweb8833932.htm
Posted in Education, Metal Roofing | No Comments »
September 29th, 2011
This week, solar electricity made the news with high-profile investments by Google and the government’s energy department.
Google announced that they are funding the installation of solar panels on 10,000 homes. The Obama administration’s investment will loan out about a billion dollars to electric companies developing their solar programs.
When looking for the best places for solar, sun is one part of the equation.
http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/55680/sunny-days-solar-google-obama.asp
Posted in Articles, Education, Green News, Solar Energy | No Comments »
September 25th, 2011
There’s no doubt that a solar electric system will cut your monthly utility bill. But will it save you money in the long run? That’s a tricky question. The upfront costs average about $15,000 to $25,000 (after financial credits and rebates). For a lot of folks, the discussion ends right there. But for people who live in areas with lots of sun, high electricity rates and significant financial incentives, the payback period for a solar electric system can be less than five years. This article will pose five key questions to help you decide whether solar makes sense for you.
http://www.power-eng.com/news/2011/09/1504857883/should-you-go-solar.html
Posted in Articles, Education, Green News, Solar Energy | No Comments »
September 25th, 2011
As thousands of Japanese protest against the nuclear power industry in Tokyo, it may be time to consider investing in the alternative energy sector.
Thousands of Japanese citizens took to the streets on Monday in Tokyo, calling on the government to reduce the country’s use of nuclear power. The protests are the latest reaction to the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which happened after much of northeast coastal Japan was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami earlier this year on March 11.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan recently revealed in an interview with Kyodo News that the situation looked so bleak shortly after nuclear disaster struck the Fukushima Number One nuclear power plant that 30 million residents of the Tokyo metropolitan area faced evacuation, according to the worst case scenario in a report he received in the early days of the unfolding nuclear crisis.
http://www.minyanville.com/businessmarkets/articles/nuclear-industry-fukushima-disaster-japan-nuclear/9/19/2011/id/36954
Posted in Articles, Education, General, Green News, Solar Energy, Wind Energy | No Comments »
September 25th, 2011
We need a new roof. A builder suggested overlaying over the existing layer of shingles. Is it wise to do this? My concern is how would we know about any underlying damage? I would appreciate any input about the pros and cons of this method.
In general, it is not good practice to overlay a traditional asphalt shingle roof versus a complete tear off and replacement for the very reason you stated: you can’t examine the decking to determine if there is any damage that needs repaired. If you don’t take your roof down to the sheathing, you will never know if you have proper underlayment, or are experiencing sheathing rot, or ice or water damage.
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That said, overlaying asphalt shingles with a metal roof could be an option, provided there is no underlying damage. Metal roofs offer energy savings but do cost more upfront than traditional asphalt shingles. They also last longer and stand up to foul weather better than shingles. No matter what type of roof you choose, make sure you tell your roofer to fix any underlying problems you have before installing any new roof.
http://www.bnd.com/2011/09/12/1856700/ask-angie-overlaying-new-roof.html
Posted in Articles, Education, General, Metal Roofing | No Comments »
September 9th, 2011
Driven to reduce energy costs and make long-term improvements to their homes, more homeowners than ever are installing durable and environmentally friendly metal roofing systems. According to new statistics from McGraw-Hill Construction Research and Analytics®, the number of homes with metal roofs has more than tripled over the past decade, moving metal from 3% of the overall U.S. market to 10%.
Although metal may initially seem an unlikely choice for cooling, recent advances are allowing metal to shed its “cat on a hot tin roof” image. …
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cool-metal-roofing-a-hot-idea-2011-09-01
Posted in Education, Green News, Metal Roofing, Solar Energy | No Comments »
September 9th, 2011
Discussions about federal regulations on Energy Star ratings and energy efficient products continue and homeowners need to keep a pulse on the changes. The latest issue of Consumer Reports looks to help shoppers make the best decisions for their needs and possibly save some cash. Consumer Reports recent tests revealed some of the best appliances, electronics, and heating and cooling equipment are also among the most efficient. There are a number of home-energy retrofits, that if done right, can quickly pay for themselves. But not all efficiency promises pan out.
“You don’t have to sacrifice performance, comfort, or convenience to save energy and money, providing you know what to look for,” said Celia Kuperszmid-Lehrman, deputy home editor at Consumer Reports. “Our tests have found many models of efficiency among a variety of appliances, but shoppers should beware that there are also products whose energy-saving claims are mostly hype.”
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/48919/
Posted in Articles, Education, General, Green News | No Comments »
August 30th, 2011
Roofs play a key role in protecting you and the interior of your home from outside weather conditions, primarily moisture. Roofs also provide protection from the sun. In fact, if designed correctly, roof overhangs can protect the building’s exterior walls from moisture and sun.
Most roofs last many years if properly installed and maintained. Maintenance includes cleaning the leaves and debris from the roof’s valleys and gutters. Debris in the valleys can cause water to wick under the shingles and cause damage to the interior of the roof.
Clogged rain gutters can cause water to flow back under the shingles on the eaves and cause damage, whatever the roofing material may be including composition shingle, wood shake, tile or metal. While seasonal changes in the weather are considered one of the most destructive forces, the best way to preserve your roof is make sure the attic is properly insulated, vented and to stay off it.
Concerns regarding moisture, standing water, durability and appearance are dependent on the type of roofing materials used …
http://www.lfpress.com/homes/2011/08/11/18540146.html
Posted in Articles, Education, General, Metal Roofing | No Comments »
August 30th, 2011
The volatility of the global energy market has forced consuming countries worldwide to take a serious look at the skyrocketing cost and its impact on their economies, and to plan and implement strategies aimed at reducing their dependence on fossil fuel.
The [Jamaican] Government, which is also feeling the effects of the cost of imported oil, has stepped up its effort to raise public awareness and plan strategies for the use of alternative energy, particularly renewable energy.
Included in the strategies are the launching of the country’s first National Energy Policy; setting the stage for the introduction of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG); promoting the use of solar energy and expanding wind farms.
There has also been an islandwide series of community and stakeholder workshops put on by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ).
http://www.jis.gov.jm/news/leads-129/28617
Posted in Articles, Education, General, Green News, Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Wind Power | No Comments »
August 30th, 2011
The term “metal roof” can conjure up images of dull, flimsy corrugated sheet metal rusting away on top of an old dilapidated house. But times – and metal roofs – are changing.
“Metal roofs have been around for years, but over the last few years they’ve really evolved,” says Angie Hicks, founder of the consumer group Angie’s List. “They come in different styles and colors – some look like wood, slate tile, clay tile, even asphalt shingles.”
http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/money/angies_list/metal-roofs-look-better-than-ever.-angie’s-list-details-the-many-advatages.
Posted in Articles, Education, General, Metal Roofing | No Comments »
