By now everyone should be aware that there is a serious tragedy going on in the Gulf of Mexico that is affecting industry, food supply, wildlife and our tax dollars. In an effort to do our part, GreenisGlobal.net is looking to educate all homeowners and Americans on the difference 1 metal roof makes (and solar metal roof – see part II coming soon).

There is no denying oil is a necessary part of life. Petroleum goes into our cars, boats, planes, plastic manufacturing and asphalt production for roadways as well as…roofs! So asphalt roofs have more in common with oil other than necessity (you need a roof); they are literally made of oil.

According to Citizendium.org asphalt (petroleum) is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most petroleum crude oils and in some natural deposits. The largest use of petroleum asphalt is for making asphaltic concrete for road construction and accounts for approximately 80% of the petroleum asphalt consumed in the United States. Roofing shingles account for most of the remaining 20% of asphalt consumption in the United States.

Every year, 13 billion pounds of asphalt shingles go into landfills, whereas metal roofing is 100% recyclable at the end of its very long lifespan (50+ years).

Think about that, over the next ten years, 130 billion pounds of petroleum based products will be put back into the earth via landfills. So if:

Texas Crude Oil Density = 873 kg / cubic meter
1 cubic meter = 264.172 gallons
1 barrel of oil = 42 gallons
42 gallons * (1 cubic meter / 264.172 gallons) = .15898 cubic meters / barrel
.15808 cubic meters / barrel * (873 kg /cubic meter) = 138.8 kg / barrel of oil
138.8 kg / barrel of oil -> converted to pounds -> 305 pounds/barrel of oil

Assuming that Asphalt shingles contain as low as 5% crude oil and as high as 20% crude oil, the number of barrels of oil deposited into landfills over the next 10 years will range anywhere from 21.3 million barrels to 85.2 million barrels!!

Although this number is an estimate, it does not even take into account all the oil from:

  • The energy it costs to make asphalt roofs or
  • The transportation costs of shipping foreign oil and asphalt
  • The high transportation costs of asphalt roofs in general (to job site)

Conversely, standing seam metal roofs are the clear choice for energy efficiency, and oil preservation for the following reasons:

  • Metal roofs have 2-3 times the life expectancy of asphalt shingle roofs
  • Metal roofs contain 20-30% post consumer recycled material
  • Metal roofs are 100% recyclable at the end of their lifespan
  • Metal roofs reflect the sun’s rays saving 20-40% on building cooling costs (1/6 of all energy in US is used to cool buildings)
  • Metal roofs are up to 1/7 as light as asphalt shingles and what can be shipped in a single truck load of metal would take the equivalent number of shingle roofs up to 3-5 times as many trips

If this information wasn’t enough to realize that metal roofing is the obvious sustainable choice, think about the hazardous run-off of petroleum as shingle roofs dry and get washed over, whereas metal roofing runoff is so clean it would be considered drinkable (if you wanted to drink roof water)! But now think where that runoff goes…into our public drains and back into our drinking water!!

And finally, if you absolutely, positively do not think metal roofing is the best roof choice, than stay tuned for the renewable energy product that is revolutionizing the solar industry as well as the energy industry…SOLAR THIN FILM INTEGRATED WITH METAL ROOFING….Stay Tuned for Part II of this article Next Week!

Enjoy Memorial Day and Be Patriotic by installing an American Made, Foreign Petroleum Asphalt Free, Standing Seam Metal Roof!! Visit GlobalHomeinc.com