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Top it Off With Green
Roofs do more than just keep the rain out.  They keep the heating/cooling in and help to capture rainwater.  They also top off a house like icing on a cake - providing texture, color and style.  

When selecting a roof, you should first consider which type of roofing materials work best in your area of the country.  Some materials, like specially coated metals, help to deflect heat in warm climates.  People in colder areas need to consider products that can withstand the weight and cold that heavy snows bring.  The next consideration for most of us is cost and lifespan.  But before you make your final selection, look into the eco-friendly alternatives available in the style that you selected whether it's shingles, slate, shake, Spanish tile, Mediterranean Tile, or metal (steel, aluminum or copper).   

What Makes It Green?
Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material in the US topping two thirds of our homes.  Although they are a good low cost option, they are made of petroleum products and millions of tons of them wind up in landfills each year.  They also have a shorter lifespan than other alternatives adding to the problem of additional waste.   

One of the "greenest" roofing options is a true greenroof.  These roofs, topped with grass or other vegetation can save their occupants more than 25% on their energy costs.  Not everyone can accommodate a green roof as they have special structural requirements.  They can also require more maintenance than standard roofing materials.  So if that option isn't for you, don't worry there are eco-friendly options in all roofing styles.  

What You Can Do

Europeans have long seen the value of greenroofs.  They have been around for centuries in Northern Scandinavia and in 2008, London had 100,000 square meters of greenroofs.

I think that Certain Teed's synthetic slate roofs are beautiful.  Gradations of stone on stone, earth palettes and color blends make them look like the real thing.  Certain Teed also recycles close to 90% of their production waste into asphalt used in road construction - diverting over 250,000 tons of waste in landfills.  That makes me like it even more!  Check them out at www.certainteed.com.