Eco-friendly roofing options for Vancouver businesses

Changing climate is bringing more focus to eco-friendly roofing options, like inverted commercial roofs, cool roofs and green roofs. These options save you money in energy costs and qualify for LEED points.

Back in 2019, Vancouver declared a climate emergency, and has since implemented a plan to reduce the city’s emissions by 50% by 2030–that’s just 6 years from now. (Here is 2023’s updated report showing successes and further plans to meet goals.)

Concerns in the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2024-25 Update address the city's main climate-related hazards, including increasingly extreme heat and rainfall. Remember the heat dome and atmospheric rivers?

Fortunately we have eco-friendly roofing choices that address both of these issues.

Inverted roof: saves in energy costs, quick to install

Cool roof: mitigates heat well, resulting in energy savings, recyclable

Green roof: excellent durability, manages temperature extremes and stormwater runoff

An inverted roof, a.k.a an upside down roof, is constructed with the waterproofing layer underneath the insulating layer. A ballast on top, composed of gravel, tiles, pavers or plants, holds it all in place. The benefits of this layout is better thermal regulation, meaning the building maintains a more steady temperature. It also affords better protection for the waterproofing membrane, which increases its lifespan compared to other types of roof. We talk a bit more about the benefits of inverted roofs, here.

Cool roofs absorb heat which helps commercial businesses save money in energy costs for their building. Green roofs absorb heat through plant material. Other types, like PVC and TPO single-ply membrane, use light colours to deflect sunlight. White, or reflective coatings are also available to paint over darker-coloured roofs so they can take advantage of the energy-saving benefits.

Green roofs are a type of cool roof and inverted roof where the insulating layer is plants. This is an excellent type of roof for managing stormwater runoff in cases of heavy rain. The plant layer also acts as a heat sink in summer and an insulator in winter, which makes for excellent thermal regulation. This saves on heating and cooling costs and creates a more comfortable atmosphere for people inside year-round.

Green roofs also contribute other eco-friendly benefits like cleaner air and increased biodiversity.

There’s been plenty of green roof construction in Vancouver already: Vancouver Public Library building, Vancouver Convention Centre West,and the Olympic Village

Laurentian Roofing Vancouver offers high-quality, cost-minded installations and repairs for commercial roofs in Vancouver.