Most people never think about their roof until there is a problem.  Planning ahead is key for making eco-friendly home choices.

Consider these Earth Day roofing facts:

• Did you know - asphalt shingles are petroleum-based, with a huge environmental impact?  Asphalt shingles increase dependency on fossil fuels, must be replaced every 15-20 years, and there's no good way to dispose of them – landfills are full of asphalt shingles.
• Eco-friendly products, including metal roofs, are rapidly replacing petroleum-based shingles.   McGraw-Hill Construction and Analytics' survey showed metal roofing now comprises 11 percent of the residential re-roofing market, more than doubling in just ten years.  Visit the Metal Roofing Alliance.
• Highly reflective "cool" colored metal roofs look just like traditional roofs, provide year-round relief from high energy costs, and are sustainable products.
• Roofing tax credits are available.  Homeowners who make energy efficient updates to their home-including the installation of a painted or coated Energy Star labeled metal roof by December 31, 2010 — may be eligible for a tax credit worth 30 percent of the material costs up to $1,500 per home.
• Installing a metal roof reduces a home's energy needs. Tests conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratories prove that a cool metal roof can save a homeowner up to 25 percent in cooling costs compared to a dark-gray asphalt shingle.
• ORNL's field tests have also shown the combination of venting and increased reflectance can reduce heat penetrating the roof deck by about 45 percent for stone-coated metal roofs compared to an asphalt shingle roof in certain climates. Ongoing research with standing-seam cool-colored metal roofs is showing similar results.
• Metal roofing provides a market for recycled materials.  An old car, dishwasher or refrigerator can be recycled to re-roof a home.  All steel roofs contain a minimum of 25 percent recycled content — many have a much higher percentage. At the end of its useful life, metal roofing is 100 percent recyclable.
• Photovoltaic Systems and Solar Panels can be integrated into metal roof systems, making them an even better choice.  Metal roofs can also allow consumers to harvest rainwater for reuse.