Nicole Eisenhardt, Vice President of Service, Tecta America
Sustainability, green roofs, photovoltaic, daylighting, ROI (Return on Investment):
these are all buzz words we hear from manufacturers, consultants and clients
in both the public and private sectors. However, with “green” technology
constantly changing in the construction industry, it can be difficult for roofing
contractors to help our clients navigate sustainability decisions that give them
the best bang for their buck.
For the first time in history, a 30 percent energy savings goal for commercial buildings has been set between ASHRAE and the Department of Energy. Changes in the 2018 International Building Code as well as local and Federal laws are following trends to make sustainability a part of the norm in construction. These changes include increased roofing insulation as a standard roofing requirement in order to meet code. Furthermore, local regulations and government
fees are tied to storm water runoff management. All of these developments represent challenges for today’s roofing professional.
A green roof is any roof surface partially or completely covered with vegetation, planted in a growing medium over a waterproof membrane surface. Types of plants and growing mediums vary depending on the climate and, with that, the protection measures used to ensure there are no leaks. Other than the obvious aesthetic impact, the biggest benefit is the reduction of waste water runoff. Studies have shown wastewater runoff reductions of over 30 percent
versus a standard roof surface. Metropolitan areas that have a great deal of impervious surfaces, such as roads and buildings, are required to provide green space to absorb the runoff. Without these green roof systems, the investment in wastewater management systems to avoid flooding is massive and challenging. Green roofs are designed to reduce the storm water impact in an area as well as to cool the roof surface to reduce energy consumption within the building.
Initially, the green roofing movement grew because of owner-occupied facilities, primarily government buildings and apartment complexes. Now, retail facility managers as well as other facility engineers are recognizing the benefits of reduced operating costs and overall energy use. Daylighting systems are another sustainable design that reduce overall energy consumption by using natural light. Daylighting provides maximum streaming of the sun’s natural illumination through skylights, windows and reflective surfaces. Both green roofs and daylighting can work to reduce energy consumption, which can be a third of a building’s operational costs.
Sustainable building also includes choosing materials that are environmentally friendly and energy efficient. The goal of energy efficient materials is to reduce energy loss in a building. The most common way to reduce energy loss is with roof insulation, increasing a roof’s R-value. Another option is to utilize materials that are manufactured in an environmentally friendly way, such as materials made from recycled metal. Also, consider the impact of shipping materials. If materials are sourced and shipped locally, it reduces the amount of emissions that are emitted into the air, which demonstrates a sustainable effort. Lastly, durable materials that have a longer lifecycle and do not need to be replaced as often reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills, thus reducing environmental impact.
A strong, durable roofing system comprises an important component for a resilient roof; the longevity of a roof can also be increased by preventative maintenance, asset management and disaster recovery. One method to extend the life of a roof is through low volatile organic compounds (VOC) liquid applied roof systems. These systems produce minimal vapors during the application and less of an impact on the environment. Code does not allow a third roof layer to be installed on a building, so when the roof system begins to fail, the options are to tear off and install a new system or apply a liquid roof system. By choosing a method that doesn’t require tear off, there is no refuse disposed into our landfills.
Solar is one of the most talked about sustainability practices currently in the construction industry. Solar thermal systems can heat water for pools and in home use such as laundry and showers. Solar applications can also be found on landscape lighting and on highway lights. Photovoltaic (PV) solar, which is solar electric power, is becoming more commonplace and costs two-thirds less than it did 15 years ago.
Unfortunately, Florida has been slow to adopt PV. One reason could be that power is cheaper in Florida than in metropolitan areas such as New York, D.C. and Los Angeles, so there hasn’t been a great deal of focus on photovoltaic solar. However, many solar residential companies have moved into Florida in the last three years. Financing programs such as RenewPACE and others that require no upfront money or collateral have made solar more accessible in Florida both commercially and residentially. Energy tax credits such as the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit offer a 30 percent credit until the end of 2019, decreasing to 26 percent in 2020, 22 percent in 2021 and ending after that. However, solar applications are not just for roofs anymore; ground mount systems, integration of solar into canopies and solar inside glazing and building envelopes are being introduced. Now the question is – how do we store solar energy and use it on demand?
As you can see, there are so many facets to sustainability and it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. It is beneficial to do an analysis of building use and design to see which of these solutions best incorporates sustainability into a project.
In reviewing sustainable projects that have been completed in the state of Florida, there are traditional sustainable roof designs that provide a positive impact to any project or facility such as energy efficiency, reduction of the heat island effect, rainwater management and air quality improvement. The traditional design has many benefits, but for a more sophisticated design, these buildings take into account the user experience and building occupants’ contributions.
Today’s tenants are more in tune with their environment and having outdoor features and activities in their facilities are more attractive to them. A sophisticated design, such as common outdoor spaces, gives building occupants a great opportunity to relieve stress and provides a place to read, work outside or plant herbs and vegetables. This design draws a newer generation of workers that are mobile and want to remove themselves from the traditional office space.
For property managers, this is also an opportunity to charge tenants for a common area that the whole facility can take advantage of.
Nicole Eisenhardt, Vice President of Service, has been with Tecta America since 2006. Over the last 13 years that Nicole has been with Tecta, she has been a driving force in the roofing industry. Nicole started as the Human Resources Manager for Tecta America in Central Florida. She then transitioned into the role of Service Manager, where she ran both the Orlando and Jacksonville service operations for more than 4 years. She was promoted to Regional Human Resources Manager, handling benefits, recruitment, training, and employee relations for 9 locations and later moved into the National Director of Training and Development in 2016. During her tenure in that position, she successfully
led Tecta’s national training programs from field training to sales, estimating and project management, along with supporting the growth of service and co-leading the service initiative program.
Article Contributors
Ben Paredes, Sr. National Service Specialist Tecta America bparedes@tectaamerica.com
Geoff Hagan, National Business Tecta America ghagan@tectaamerica.com
Jeff Degracia, Solar Specialist Momentum Solar jdegracia@momentumsolar.com
Michael Kliber, Regional Controller Tecta America mkliber@tectaamerica.com
Robyn Dowsey, Chief Operating Officer EcoBuild Strategies rdowsey@ecobuildstrategies.net
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