Green Roofing

QE Construction believes it is vitally important in our changing world that we understand and emphasize the principles of conservation, and sustainable design. Our environmental concerns are expanding at a phenomenal rate in the various aspects of our lives, and the construction industry is no exception.

As a people, we should minimize the footprint we leave on our planet; therefore, cleaner, more energy-efficient practices must be implemented. At QE Construction, we seek to lead the way. By offering “green” alternatives to the traditional concepts of construction, our clients discover that their end product is not only environmentally conscious, but economically conscious.

We understand that “going green” isn’t just a change we make, it’s a conscious decision we must make daily. Our LEED-certified staff, as well as, our continuing education efforts empower us to actively and aggressively seek new technology to implement.

Our three tenets of “green” construction:

• Energy cost reduction
• Value-added engineering
• Resource conservation

By strictly adhering to these three principles, we can more sustainably exist in our environment.

» Conserving Energy Isn’t News…

For over 30 years the need to conserve energy has impacted the way we live.

• The gas crisis in the 70’s changed the way we made cars.
• Brownouts and blackouts forced change in the way air conditioners, refrigerators, dishwashers and light bulbs are made.
• Why Roofing… It’s our turn. Driven by local power authorities, the need to stretch capacity, to reduce urban heat islands (why cities are usually hotter than rural areas) and the growing acceptance of innately reflective single ply technologies, we have the ability to begin to really participate in energy conservation.

» What is Reflectivity, Emissivity and SRI?

Technical definitions for those who require it and bare bones reference to help the rest of us “get it”…

Reflectance…

• ASTM Definition - The percentage of incident light reflected back from an image area where zero percent reflectance is black.
• Laymen’s Terms - Light energy reflected back into the atmosphere.

Emissivity…

• ASTM Definition - The ratio of the radiation given off by the surface of a body to the radiation given off by a perfect black body at the same temperature.
• Laymen’s Terms - The higher the emissivity, the less heat energy a material will retain.

SRI (Solar Reflectivity Index)…

• Laymen’s Terms - Solar Reflectance Index, SRI, - is a relative number for a specific material that quantifies what the temperature of that material will be when exposed to sunlight, relative to a black surface which has an SRI of 0 and a white surface which has an SRI of 1.0 is measured according to ASTM Standard E1980, using both the solar reflectance of the material and its emittance. SRI values closer to 1.0 are cooler roofing materials.

Re-cycled “Green” Resource Conserving Products

• These products and methods are those which implement recycled or post-consumer materials. We perpetually seek to increase the use of such materials, those which minimize the adverse effects of our consumption upon the environment.

Reflective Roofing

• Solar-reflective material is specifically designed and manufactured to minimize the amount of heat retained by the traditionally dark, black, UV-absorbent asphalt roofing material. By achieving this, attic/building temperatures can be reduced by as much as 13%, thereby reducing the electricity demand of its HVAC system.
• With asphalt-based roofing, this is accomplished by manufacturing a shingle, with a granule possessing a solar reflective base coating, as well as an infrared, UV light reflective pigmented outer coating.
• PVC-based, mechanically-attached flat roofing systems accomplish this in greater efficiency by covering the same amount of roof, using lighter-weight material. Being a purely white product, it reflects ultraviolet light in greater quantity.

Re-Cover Roofing

• For flat roof systems, this offers a waste-minimizing alternative to complete roof tear-off. By reducing the amount of land-fill space used by the original roof material, we can accomplish the re-vitalization of an existing roof, and still implement a solar reflective surface on the building.

Green Roofing (Garden Roofing)

• Debatably the most eco-friendly roofing option. By creating additional green, vegetated, biomass where traditionally a hot, black, energy-wasting one would exist, a greatly more sustainable building system is established. This is done in several ways:
• Saving energy costs by as much as 15%. Cooler roof temperatures are achieved by the plant life’s absorption of the ultraviolet light.
• Efficient stormwater management by utilizing the vegetation’s rainwater use.
• Tax incentives, LEED credits

Solar Roofing

• By converting solar ultraviolet light, directly into electrical wattage to power a building, solar-powered roofing is the most economic choice in implementing green technology for your structure’s needs.
• Photovoltaic, crystalline cells within the solar panel directly converts the amount of the sun’s energy which it absorbs into electrical power.
• Energy companies today, as well as the Federal government, offer huge incentives for utilizing solar technology to reduce a building’s energy demands.