search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
      • Enter Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
      • Enter the Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!

King's Corner: Many Shades of Green

By Chris King
September 16, 2010
Every time I get to the bottom of the peanut butter jar, I think about the environment. Here’s why: The plastic container is recyclable, and my neighborhood has a great recycling program. However, they only take clean containers.

Every time I get to the bottom of the peanut butter jar, I think about the environment. Here’s why: The plastic container is recyclable, and my neighborhood has a great recycling program. However, they only take clean containers.

So, the conundrum is this: Do I waste gallons of water washing and rinsing the jar, or do I throw away a recyclable container? Frankly, I’m not sure which is worse for the environment. Ideally I remember to wash and rinse the jar after I’ve done a load of dishes, so I don’t use very much water after all. But either way it gets me thinking about the trade-offs between the many components of sustainability.

“Sustainability” is a word whose definition is still evolving, but most agree that it concerns a product or system’s impact on the environment. Sustainable projects are designed to meet the needs of people with minimal adverse impact on the environment. When evaluating roof systems, for example, there are several areas that commentators cite as key areas to consider when evaluating sustainability. These include durability, life span, amount of recycled content used in manufacturing, recyclability at the end of service life, effect on future energy use, life-cycle cost, effect on urban heat islands, and storm water management, to name a few. Considerations such as the amount of energy used to manufacture and deliver components and how much ends up in a landfill after use are also key considerations.

Ideally, a product would excel in all of these categories, but in the real world, there are often trade-offs you have to consider. Here are some hypothetical scenarios that illustrate the point: What if a product used a lot of energy to manufacture and the manufacturing process resulted in some toxic byproducts, but it lasted twice as long as all other competing options and resulted in the lowest life cycle costs? What if a product was highly recyclable and had high recycled content, but it had to be shipped a great distance, increasing the initial cost and burning fossil fuels?

These scenarios are a lot more complicated than my peanut butter jar example - and a lot more important. As sustainability becomes more important to designers, manufacturers, consumers (and their neighbors), these types of debates will come into sharper focus. Arguments over which products or systems are “more sustainable” will be interesting to watch. However, manufacturers and others striving for sustainability have already realized great benefits. Great strides have already been made in making existing products and manufacturing processes less harmful to the environment. And every little bit helps.  

Now, if they could only make peanut butter easier to wash off …

Share This Story

Chris King is editor of Roofing Contractor. He can be reached at 248-244-6497.
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Blog Topics

Damato of the Day

Guest Blog

Recent Comments

Justin Bieber’s purple hoodie is an iconic piece...

It's fascinating to see how virtual trade shows...

This update is a game-changer for flat...

This is a timely conversation for residential...

Safety is No1

Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

  • A hand holding a wooden block that reads 'EVOLVE'
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Embracing Change: A New Era for the Roofing Industry

Popular Stories

QXO closed its acquisition of Beacon Building Supply on April 29, 2025.

QXO Closes Beacon Acquisition, Rebrands Immediately; Jacobs to Ring NYSE Bell

New executive orders signed by President Trump will likely further constrict an already tight labor market for the construction industry.

New Executive Orders Will Further Squeeze Labor Force

QXO CEO Brad Jacobs will share the company’s strategic vision today at the Wolfe Research Global Transportation & Industrials Conference in New York following its acquisition of Beacon Roofing Supply..

QXO’s Brad Jacobs Charts Growth at Wolfe Research Conference

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing