Top Sustainable Roofing Options
Last Updated: Mar 10, 2025Roofing is sometimes overlooked when considering sustainable home projects. But, roofs are a major part of the home and deserve consideration when the time comes to replace them. As with many products, some are "green" simply because they are better than the alternative. Many of the most popular roofing products on the market today are better than those used in the past. These new materials last much longer, and some can be recycled.
More sustainable roofing options last longer than average, can be recycled at the end of their lives, have lower embodied energy, or are sourced from non-mined or fossil fuel-based materials. Below, we look at some of the most popular roofing products before turning our attention to the top five more sustainable roofing options available today.
Common Types of Roofing
Table of Contents
- What Are Asphalt Shingles?
- What Is Metal Roofing?
- What Is EPDM
- Five More Sustainable Roofing Options
- What Are Terracotta Tiles?
- What Is a Living or Sod Roof?
- What Are Cedar Shingles?
- What Is Slate Roofing?
- What Are Synthetic Slate Shingles?
- Bottom line
What Are Asphalt Shingles?
The vast majority of roofs in the United States are made of asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingle roofs are the preferred option for most homeowners because of their low upfront cost and relative ease of installation. So what's the problem? First, durability. Many asphalt roofs only have an estimated lifetime of between 15 and 20 years. This means that homeowners will most likely have to invest in a new roof at least 2-3 times during the home's lifetime. Second, asphalt shingles are estimated to make up 5% of the total construction-related waste each year, to the tune of 11 million tons of asphalt shingles thrown out each year. In context, a 2020 report conducted by the EPA, stated that 17% of construction waste to landfill stemmed from roofing materials. Even though asphalt shingles can be recycled, these shingles' raw material contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a known carcinogen. Asphalt shingles contain bitumen, which is a petrochemical and thus, a non-renewable material.
What Is EPDM
EPDM—Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer, a synthetic rubber derived from oil and natural gas (ethylene propylene)—is the most common roofing material for homes and commercial buildings with flat roofs. In general, EPDM is marketed as an "environmentally friendly" roofing option. Its dark color helps reduce heating costs in the winter because it absorbs the sun's heat. That is a questionable assumption, though, because the dark hot material increases cooling costs in the summer. This heat absorption adds to the urban heat island effect. In cold climates, it is often covered by snow—eliminating any warming benefit. For hotter climates, EPDM roofs are available in white to reflect rather than absorb the sun's heat. EPDM roofing is recyclable. In addition, the materials used to make EPDM are derived from fossil fuels, and they may only last about 15 years. The longevity of EPDM is variable, depending on climate, care, installation, etc.
Five More Sustainable Roofing Options
Are you planning to build a new home or renovate an older, leaky roof? Take a look at the roofing options discussed below. They all offer unique, sustainable, and more environmentally friendly hats for your home.
What Is Slate Roofing?
One of the most expensive roofing options on the market is slate roofs. While the main disadvantage of this elegant stone roofing material is its upfront cost, there are numerous benefits. First, durability: the estimated lifespan of slate tiles is 200 years. The natural color variations of the different colored rocks will give your roof a truly unique appearance. Other benefits of slate roofing include inherent fireproof qualities, zero VOCs or other pollution during the manufacturing process, and excellent thermal performance that can help lower your energy bills.
Bottom line
While roofing is usually an afterthought in the design, planning, and construction of sustainable buildings, these five more sustainable roofing options will allow you to increase the durability and resiliency, as well as decrease the carbon footprint of your home.
Tobias Roberts
Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.
