Over the past month, I’ve been prowling the websites of roofing contractors across the United States and Canada looking to see how they’re highlighting today’s many sustainable roofing options. The good news is the majority of websites I visited feature a link or page devoted to “sustainability” or “green.” But the bad news is that too many failed to offer the interest and excitement necessary to generate sales leads and customer inquiries. Almost all of the contractor websites I studied included the following sustainable roofing features — and drawbacks:
A commitment to sustainability. Although many websites state that the company is “committed to sustainability,” too many failed to provide any proof to support that commitment. However, the websites that did back up their claims offered some very impressive stories. Several websites provided case studies of the different types of sustainable roofs the contractor had installed (many on their own facilities), while some documented how many tons of roofing materials they recycled in the past year. Others provided stories of how the contractor participated in local social programs, and a few provided information about the contractor’s own green initiatives. Several websites featured the accomplishments of the company’s employees, referencing certifications such as Green Roofing Professional, LEED and AP.