Environmental Impact & Sustainability

Building A Sustainable Future

So far, the winter of 2023/2024 has followed a well-established pattern of extreme weather events that have become the norm during the past decades. Hurricane-force winds and powerful waves have eroded beaches on both coasts, and torrential rains are flooding… Read More

ERA Publishes Guide to Sustainable Roofing Systems

  Report Details Impact of Roof Albedo on Urban Heat Islands and Energy Efficiency Washington, D.C., March 8, 2024 – The EPDM Roofing Association (ERA) is publishing “The View From the Roof: Building a Sustainable Future”, a comprehensive guide to… Read More

Green Buildings That Make Sense

While there are numerous areas in which the LEED program has contributed to the USGBC’s stated purpose, the LEED point for installing a reflective roof to address urban heat islands should be changed. The author suggests limiting the LEED point… Read More

EPDM vs TPO Debate

“Roofs are based on a variety of factors,” said Ellen Thorp, associate executive director of the ERA. “To dictate one of those variables without an intimate understanding of that building’s location, usage or number of occupants is short-sighted. All of… Read More

Green Schools?

“While ending the LEED-certification mandate won’t make a huge dent in the state budget holes, it seems wasteful to pour millions into LEED when we should be focused on improving classroom instruction and our ability to compete in the international… Read More

EPDM VS TPO DEBATE

“Roofs are based on a variety of factors,” said Ellen Thorp, associate executive director of the ERA. “To dictate one of those variables without an intimate understanding of that building’s location, usage or number of occupants is short-sighted. All of… Read More

EPDs at a Glance

A new supplement to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) offers a faster way to compare environmental impact information. Read full article.

Cool Roofs and Condensation

“It’s not so unusual. Right after the first couple sunny spring days you get a call. The owner complains his roof is leaking but it hasn’t rained for a week. You investigate. It is not a roof leak. It is… Read More

LCA Data

“Based on a recent life-cycle analysis (LCA), CertainTeed Vinyl Siding, CedarBoards Insulated Siding and Cedar Impressions Polymer siding outperformed other exterior siding products in terms of environmental and economic performance.”