In an era of sustainable building practices and environmental conservation, the selection of roofing system for low-slope commercial buildings is often overlooked and undervalued. As one of the few roofing membranes with more than 50 years of real-world experience, EPDM is unmatched when it comes to long-term service life, sustainability, and positive environmental impact.

Energy Efficiency: EPDM is available in both white and black options for different geographic climates. It’s commonly accepted that white EPDM saves energy by reducing air-conditioning usage, which is a major benefit in hot, southern climates. What is often overlooked is that black EPDM provides energy savings in cold, northern climates by reducing heating usage. A recent study by Ashley-McGraw Architects, PC and CDH Energy Corp analyzed various roofing system options in real-world conditions and concluded that in northern climates, dark-colored roofing is more energy efficient than white roofing and more cost effective when heating and cooling costs are examined.

Environmental Impact: Another study, Life Cycle Inventory and Assessment of Low-Slope Roofing Systems in North America, examined roofing systems that used a variety of membranes, including EPDM, TPO, PVC, and SBS-modified bitumen. The study’s intent was to measure and compare the relative environmental impact of these differing low-slope roofing systems by creating a life cycle assessment (LCA), which is a scientific evaluation of the ecological aspects and potential effects of a product, process or service throughout its life cycle. This study’s LCA found that EPDM’s long-term environmental impact is much less than that of alternative roofing systems.

Stormwater Retention: Stormwater management is a growing concern among building owners, particularly in large cities where stormwater and sewer systems are combined and sometimes unable to handle heavy rainfalls. In these settings, traditional ballasted EPDM systems can be modified to absorb and retain stormwater.

Read more about the environmental benefits of EPDM roofing systems. For more information, visit www.carlislesyntec.com, or contact Ron Goodman at Ron.Goodman@CarlisleSynTec.com.