"Thicker Single Ply Membranes & and VALUE"

This article was written by my friend, Mr. Rob Realle of Carlisle-Syntec. Carlisle does not foray into the petroleum market, and for good reason.

I'd like to thank Rob for being gracious enough to grant permission to use this very lucid description of why thinner membranes (.045) may be fractionally less expensive in up front cost, but are not a value for long term service. I am not disparaging .045, and may see an application if the owner was in a short term investment scenario, but personally do not specify anything under .060 (20 yr.), and actually prefer the .080 (30 year) for reasons Mr. Realle masterfully describes. The article is posted in it's entirety:

"Exceptional Friends & Supporters"

I'd like to take a moment to thank the many contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, and supporters who depend upon me to tell you the truth. Each "Trusted Professional" is well known to me, and since I am not "Politically Correct" at times, requires a measure of courage by them to be listed here.

While the intent is to be docile, the thousands of words written here will ultimately offend someone. This is not a social "friend finding site", but a place where data (not opinion) is shared. I've said before that we deal in "measurable units", and not hypothesis.

Recently, my friends Mike Black, and John Kenney of Sutter Roofing have come on board. My dear friends Ms. Camille Austin (Elite Roofing), Mr. Stan Pratt (Prattco, Inc.), Mr. Jeff Anderson (Service Works), and Carlisle-Syntec have come on just today. I'll be doing some feature posts on each of you, so stay tuned.

Judging from the amount of mail I receive, a huge number of honest, fair minded, contractors will be added soon. If your firm believes in fair competition, and does not participate in "Proprietary Specification" scenarios, you are welcome to communicate with me at :

RobertRSolomon@aol.com

I will research your firm, and list it here for free of course. I would encourage contractors throughout North America to come on board, as this isn't just for Florida. And thank you to the person in Moscow who visits rather often.

There is no need for Garland, or Tremco applicators to contact me. I would prefer to leave you to your normal operating procedure, as it is contrary to what we discuss, and believe here.

Happy 01/11/11. Reject negativity in all forms, and keep looking "UP".

Respectfully,

Robert R. "Ron" Solomon
CCC1325620 Florida

I will continue my mission this year advocating against petroleum based roof systems. I'll try harder to make inroads with government officials to grasp the most basic concept of "Solar Reflection" vs. "Radiant Absorption". A middle school student would know this.

So, here it is straight from the respected scientist (Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories).

Michael Kanellos: December 28, 2010
The World’s Most Efficient Green Technology?
The third part of our interview with Art Rosenfeld. The subject? White roofs.
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A few weeks ago, we wrote that videoconferencing might be the best green technology available in terms of bang for your buck, according to data culled from a green retrofit at software giant SAP.

It turns out there is something even cheaper.

White roofs cost less than conventional roofs, require almost no maintenance and can offset tremendous amounts of demand for heating and air conditioning, according to Art Rosenfeld, the former California Energy Commissioner who is also often described as "The Father of Energy Efficiency."

1,000 square feet of white roofing can offset ten tons of carbon dioxide, he told us in a recent video interview. (See segments one and two on energy efficient homes and technologies here and here.). The technology -- and bear in mind that calling changing the pigments in roofing materials a 'technology' is a bit of a stretch -- is effective in a wide range of climates, too. Installing white roofs from Chicago to Sao Paolo would offset 25 billion tons of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, he said.

Worldwide, white roofs could eliminate 44 billion metric tons, according to a 2008 research paper from Lawrence Berkeley Labs written by Haskem Akbari and Rosenfeld. (He's in his 80s and still publishing scientific papers: one more reason Rosenfeld is in the Greentech Hall of Fame.)

California has already mandated that flat roofs like those you see on Walmart stores must be white. Aesthetics aren't really an issue. In fact, the aesthetic issues on homes can be eliminated: it just takes a little acclimation.

Happy viewing.



Back in the 1970s, Rosenfeld, a physicist at Lawrence Berkeley Lab (and Enrico Fermi's last grad student), determined that the power consumption in California and the nation would someday outstrip our ability to produce it. He kicked off a massive effort to get the state to pass efficiency regulations. Appliance makers fought vigorously, but California passed appliance and building regulations (Title 20 and Title 24) anyway.

"They all claimed it was the [expletive] end of civilization as we knew it," he told me in 2006. "Autos were getting 14 miles a gallon. Energy efficiency wasn't part of the American ethic whatsoever."

The result? Per capita power consumption has remained relatively flat in California but nearly doubled in the rest of the country. The results can only partly be attributed to the "Rosenfeld Effect." Still, the impact has been huge. Modern refrigerators consume half or less the energy consumed by fridges back in the '70s, hold more food and cost less when adjusted for inflation. Pilot lights consumed close to 10 percent of the energy in homes. Electronic ignition has capped that work and has likely been responsible for hundreds of billions in energy savings.

The interview took place at the Emerging Technologies Summit in Sacramento for a series of videos (thanks to Jonathan Livingston for setting it up).
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"Attic Insulation Value"

Thermal coefficient, or "R" value is probably the most critical concern when designing energy efficient structures.

Today, we'll discuss the residential application (and types) of attic insulation. I do not endorse manufacturers, but felt the most common point of reference might be the "Pink Panther" and Owens Corning. They do a wonderful job in their fiberglass roof insulation division, and would like you to consider the following from them:

http://insulation.owenscorning.com/homeowners/insulation-products/r-30-fiberglass-insulation.aspx

Homeowners prefer Owens Corning PINK FIBERGLAS™ Insulation 7 to 1 because it maintains insulating power over time. Since fiber glass does not absorb moisture, PINK insulation will not hold water, preventing permanent loss of R-value. When properly installed, PINK FIBERGLAS™ Insulation will not settle or deteriorate to maintain insulating value. The insulating materials in PINK FIBERGLAS™ Insulation are also noncombustible.




I prefer fiberglass attic insulation vs. cellulose (essentially shredded newspaper). The Cellulose is without question, the least expensive (by far), and in some cases CAN contain a firetardant, so I don't want my statements here to be "all encompassing", as that would be unfair.

However, you cannot get around the fact, that when cellulose is used, vermin love to nest in it, attic condensation causes it to compress and lose thermal value. I think everyone knows that insulation cannot perform if not for tiny pockets of encapsulated air. So, when it's wet, it loses a huge amount of thermal resistance capacity. Pretty easy so far?

Okay, there's also the fire hazard aspect. Should a fire break out in the attic, the untreated cellulose (newspaper) would act exactly as you'd expect it to (source of fuel). I've never seen anyone wrap their children in a highly flammable paper product when putting them to sleep. Horrible thought, but illustrative.

Fiberglass, or Owens Corning "Fiberglas" brand might be a very good option if you are in the market for attic iinsulation. If performance, not lowest cost, is your determining factor, I don't really see how anyone could compare the two.

As a side note, Owens Corning has actually trademarked the "pink" color, which is why you will never see a pink insulation that iws not Owens Corning. You can believe that Owens Corning is fiercely protective of it's brand with the insulation, and of course the "Pink Panther".

In my state of Florida, an R-30 is recommended, but benefit is recognized with additional insulation. Care should be taken not to obstruct the ventilation process, but your roofer (particularly if they are approved by Owens Corning)will be well aware not to block the soffit venting.

I've had the pleasure of interacting with corporate staff, find them very well trained, and a fine company to deal with. Fiberglass is fiberglass. You can make your own decision regarding who you buy it from. They are all readily available at your local home improvement centers.

So, I hope the above provides you the knowledge to safely, and effectively insulate your attic. Insulation is without question, the best edollar you can spend in home improvement. If you are a DIY person, it can be easily rolled out, but I can tell you the attic heat will come upon you rather swiftly, so please be VERY CONCERNED when subjecting yourself to elevated temperatures.

I would suggest you be well hydrated, have someone with you, and someone in the home to check on you every 15 minutes or so. SAFETY is our first concern, and then you can enjoy the reduction in energy cost.

Thank you to Owens Corning for the image.

As always, thanks for visiting, and keep looking "UP".

Robert R. "Ron" Solomon
CCC1325620 Florida

"Deeply Appreciative"

Thank you to all the kind and gentle people worldwide who take time to visit with me here. I am deeply appreciative, because writing objectively, and seeing someone on the other side of this planet respond is invigorating at minimum. Humbling may be a better word.

I won't discuss roofing today, as it is the furthest thing from my mind.

Please know this little blog is a form of expression for me, and hopefully a reliable place where I can answer your questions absent of prejudice. Your cooperation and interest mean the world to me, and now that our introductory phase is over, will be addressing many specific topics in 2011.

Mrs. Solomon and I wish you, and your families a joyful and blessed Christmas.

Look around for the many blessings that surround you, praise them, and always keep looking "UP".

Best,

Ron

"OIL SANDS" - The extraction of Bitumen used in roofing materials"

By now you are very aware I do not think building structures made of oil is a good idea. Today, I will ask you to take a moment to read and view where these materials come from, and the environmental impact they have on each of you. There is a video later in this post, that you absolutely MUST see.

Oil Sands, Tar Sands, Bitumen, Oil Sands Define, Oil Sands news
Oil sands are a mixture of sand, water, clay and a highly viscous, dark and tar like petroleum substance called bitumen.

Here are some facts about bitumen:

•comprises polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
•is soluble in carbon disulfide.
•is highly inflammable.
•has been used in construction from its earliest times.
•can be separated from oil sands.
•helps to extract synthetic oil.

Canada dominates the production of bitumen. In 2006, Canada’s daily production of crude bitumen averaged roughly 1.1 million barrels. The 2007 oil market outlook indicated by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers predicts a huge increase in its daily production to 4.4 million barrels by 2020.

Large reserves of oil sands, also called as tar sands, were discovered in Venezuela and Canada. There are about 1.7 trillion barrels of reserves in Athabasca Oil Sands (Canada) and 1.8 trillion barrels of extra heavy crude in the Venezuelan Orinoco oil sands. In fact, the oil sands account for around 66% of the world’s total oil reserves, according to the energy business reports published in 2008.

Oil Sands: Uses
Oil sands and bitumen have various uses. Some are:

Bitumen is used in construction
and maintenance of roads.

Bitumen is often used for waterproofing the rooftops of buildings.

Ever since oil prices soared in 2003, oil sands have been used to extract synthetic crude oil.
Oil Sands: Importance

Decades ago, oil sands were too costly and unprofitable to pursue but now it has emerged as a key commodity in international trade. Further, outputs from the Athabasca Oil Sands are highly in demand with the US and China. These two countries compete to gain a larger share of Canada’s oil sand outputs. The political and economic importance of oil sands is predicted to soar in proportion to its four fold increase in output by 2020.

Oil Sands: Extraction and Processing
Oil sands are usually extracted by surface mining, which involves the removal of soil and rock that cover the mineral deposits.

Originally, draglines, bucket wheel excavators and conveyer belts were used for mining and transporting oil sands deposits to the processing plants. Now this is done by power shovels and dump trucks. Strip mining method is also used to reduce the viscosity of the deposits.

After excavation of the oil sands, they are treated with caustic soda and hot water. This helps to break the clumps. It converts them into the liquid form so that the resulting substance or slurry can be sent for processing to extraction plants.

The demand for oil sands is bound to grow as the world is poised to pursue profitable ventures in every sector and industry.

This may sound excessively boring to you, but the fact is, we continue to use these hydrocarbons in roofing. I've never heard a sane argument to support it's use vs. synthetic reflective roof membrane. I welcome any scientist, engineer, physicist, or anyone else to give it a shot. The premise is frail at best. They depend upon an uninformed public to simply accept it, and consider it my responsibility to share information with you, absent of prejudice.

As a state certified roofer, and conservative environmentalist, I can (and will) successfully debate my position with anyone who wishes to give it a try.

Okay, I know everyone likes pictures and video, so this is one of the best I've ever seen, and I really hope you take a moment to soak up some "REALITY".

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20101215/oilsands-royal-society-report-101215/

ELIMINATE PETROLEUM BASED ROOF SYSTEMS.

In the interim, I will wish you all a very happy and productive day. "Stand For Something", and always keep looking "UP".

Respectfully,

Robert R. "Ron" Solomon
CCC1325620 (Florida)