Why Should You Install Cedar Shingles for Your Roofing and Siding
Global warming is a devastating phenomenon that affects everyone, and it can only worsen if carbon reduction measures are not enforced right away. Responsible homeowners, therefore, make it a point to reduce their carbon footprints. Tom Zeller Jr.’s article for The Huffington Post points out why it seems so difficult to prevent carbon dioxide from entering and damaging the atmosphere:
Carbon dioxide emissions come from lots of sources — cars and trucks, for example, or residential and commercial buildings. But heavy industry and electricity production, both of which rely to a significant extent on the burning of coal, natural gas or oil to do what they do, make for a highly polluting combination. According to the Energy Information Administration, the world currently spews a little less than 35 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere every year. About a quarter of that comes from burning coal, oil and natural gas for electricity and heat. Another 20 percent arises from large-scale industrial activity, including chemical, metal and mineral processing.
An energy-efficient home upgrade—such as the installation of cedar shingle siding, for instance—is one way of transforming your home into an eco-friendly one. You can start by replacing your old asphalt shingles with those made of cedar. Cedar from sustainable forests is a durable and lightweight green roofing option that also enhances your home’s curb appeal.
Asphalt roofing shingles may be inexpensive, but they may also not be the most energy-efficient materials available. Millions of asphalt shingles end up in landfills each year, while those made from cedar can be recycled or reused. Indeed, installing cedar shingles for your siding and roofing can be the best thing you can do for your home as well as for the environment.
Cedar roofing and siding shingles are resilient to extreme weather conditions, due in large part to their higher thermal resistivity (R-value) as compared to other materials like asphalt, concrete, and steel. Natural oils found in cedar wood also prevent rot, while the placement of cedar roofing encourages better airflow to keep roof mold growth at bay. Cedar shingle roofing and siding can last from 30 to 50 years depending on your area’s weather patterns and the way the products have been installed and maintained.
With cedar roofs, natural aesthetics go hand in hand with performance. If you want the sort of biodegradable and eye-catching roof that can enhance your home’s resale value and rustic appeal, then you certainly can’t go wrong with Western red cedar shingles. Count on a trusted company like WoodRoofing.com to offer high-quality cedar siding and roofing products.
(Article Excerpt and Image from Carbon Capture And Storage: Global Warming Panacea, Or Fossil Fuel Pipe Dream?, The Huffington Post, 08/19/2013)
