Aging government buildings poised for roof repairs
No question about it, local, state and federal governments are major consumers of roofing materials. The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest “Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS): Building Characteristics Tables” estimate that there are 635,000 government-owned buildings in the United States. The EIA made its estimate using a national sample survey.
The predominant roof materials found in a high percentage of those buildings, according to CBECS, are built-up, shingles (not wood), metal surfacing, and synthetic or rubber. The EIA report estimates 188,000 government-owned buildings have built-up roofs, while 166,000 have shingles (not wood). A total of 148,000 government-owned buildings have metal-surface roofs, and 80,000 have synthetic or rubber roofs. Slate or tile roofs are sheltering some 31,000 government-owned buildings.
In addition, a good number of the government-owned buildings may be showing their age and may need roof repairs, with 25,000 constructed before 1920 and 67,000 constructed between 1920 and 1945. A whopping 99,000 were constructed between 1946 and 1959—the youngest in that last batch would be 50 years old.
The CBECS tables offer other data on government-owned buildings, including predominant exterior wall material, energy sources, heating-cooling-lighting equipment in place, interior lighting fixtures, types of windows installed, and kinds and number of office equipment in place. The survey also has data on HVAC conservation features in place in government-owned buildings.
Preliminary results from the newer 2007 CBECS survey will be available in mid-2009. Visit EIA for information: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cbecs/