Craig Silvertooth is the Executive Director for
the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing (CEIR), an organization
dedicated to promoting the development and use of environmentally responsible
roof systems.
Craig Silvertooth is the Executive Director for
the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing (CEIR), an organization
dedicated to promoting the development and use of environmentally responsible
roof systems. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the center is establishing a
forum that draws together the entire roofing industry into the common cause of
advancing environmentally friendly, high-performance roof
systems.
He was on hand at Best of Success to update attendees on the CEIR, discuss ways
to measure sustainable buildings, and detail some of the rooftop energy
strategies that could help contractors increase their business.
Calling the Center “the leading information resource for roofing, energy and
the environment," Silvertooth spotlighted key programs such as:
• Roof Point, a new guideline and rating system for the selection of roof
systems to maximize energy efficiency and minimize environmental
impact.
• RISE (Roof Integration of Solar Energy), a certification program for roofing
contractors installing solar systems, in development in conjunction with the
NRCA.
• Excellence in Design Award, an annual recognition program honoring innovation
in roofing.
Silvertooth explored three strategies for measuring building
sustainability:
1. Carbon neutral buildings, in which the carbon footprint is offset by clean
energy production (on or off site) and carbon sequestration (on site or off
site).
2. Zero energy buildings, in which all energy used is clean energy generated on
site.
3. Net zero energy building, in which all carbon-based energy used is offset by
clean energy production.
Net zero energy buildings get their name from the fact that the amount of
external energy needed minus the amount of on-site energy used equals zero. Net
zero energy is a desirable strategy because it has a simple definition and
requires a strong mix of energy efficiency and clean energy production. “The
trend today is toward net zero energy building versus carbon neutral buildings”
Silvertooth said.
Net zero roofing opportunities include roofs with high R-values, cool roofs,
daylighting, and rooftop solar and wind systems, and Silvertooth urged roofing
contractors to become experts in these technologies. “There are a lot of people
on roofs who have no business being on roofs - electricians, landscape
contractors, solar integrators. They don’t have our safety record,” Silvertooth
said.
“The roofing professional is critical to maintaining roof watertightness and
continuous operations; maintaining the roof warranty; and ensuring that
building codes and safety regulations are met.”