With the recent government shutdown and ongoing debate over Obamacare, many other bills are stuck in process. One such bill is Energy Bill S. 1392, which promotes energy efficiency by “promoting energy savings in residential and commercial buildings and industry.” Regardless of whether you ask politicians, pundits or reporters, most agree that this bill is a much needed piece of legislation and should easily pass (if it can ever be heard). In fact, climate change has been a significant part of the Obama Administration’s message of late.

The energy bill will encourage more energy efficiency by strengthening voluntary building codes, helping train workers and directing the Energy Department to work closely with the private sector on energy efficient manufacturing. Since there are many green building materials already on the market, and with the likelihood that Energy Bill S. 1392 will pass, it seems quite logical to consider making the move to more green materials now, rather than waiting.

Benefits of Green Now

For commercial properties, now is the time that most groups are finalizing budgets and considering what needs to be done for the next year. Roofing maintenance is certainly one of those tasks that is best performed on a maintenance schedule, rather than being forced either by inclement weather or regulatory chances. After all, it is better to schedule your roofing or re-roofing based on your calendar.

“Re-roofing jobs are simply better accommodated by the latest formulation of lightweight insulating concrete,” said Charlie Krauss, KPost Company Roof Deck Manager & Senior Estimator. “The green benefits, longevity, and the ability to accommodate various R-Values are all inherent to LWIC roofing systems.

Another benefit of LWIC versus rigid ISO board is that using it typically provides customers an average savings of 25%.”

The reality is that going green is available to commercial property owners today, with affordable options such as lightweight insulating concrete (LWIC).

The LWIC Difference

Whether scoping a new building project or considering a re-roofing project, lightweight insulating concrete provides many benefits. One of the more unique benefits to LWIC is the versatility to match thermal values to the design. The same goes for the slope of the roof. This brings us to another benefit – altering the roof slope to better accommodate drainage.

“When we look at any re-roofing project, our first step is to look at all the aspects and how we can ultimate match the original design. LWIC provides the best solution while also providing a green option,” said Krauss.

Re-roofing projects often have multiple slopes that must be accommodated. Lightweight insulating concrete allows for a more flexible approach. The LWIC system easily matches varying heights of a roof allowing for an installation of multiple slope conditions.

“It’s a bit like a putting together a puzzle. You can manage the variance in roof slope with the EPS board and then float a layer of cellular concrete that you trowel on,” said Billy Ward, KPost Company Superintendent. “An additional green benefit is the ability to reroof the installed LWIC versus tearing out and replacing ISO materials as previously done in the past. This greatly reduces the amount of construction materials going into our landfills. LWIC makes for a versatile, lightweight option with a much longer life.”

Energy efficiency is not a fly-by-night topic. It’s a focus that will only intensify as time goes on. With the probable passing of Energy Bill S. 1392 and upcoming changes in R-values, it’s prudent to consider a greener alternative now. Maintenance is always less expensive than reacting to a situation. Fortunately, there are already options available for commercial roofing maintenance, such as lightweight insulating concrete, giving you the ability to control the timing and scheduling while controlling costs.

company icon