On a tropical island, be prepared for the heat. In the new marketplace for green materials, however, there’s any number of ways to keep your beach house nice and temperately cool while incurring no power costs.

One of the best ways to do that is by using copper shingles. As a bright, reflective surface, those Caribbean rays are bounced right back, an efficiency with the additional perk of keeping your home looking attractive, bright and beautiful.

Aesthetically-speaking, one of the best things about copper shingles is their versatility, as they can be used on any type of design from rustic cabins in the woods to a more contemporary, modern design in the city. For island-dwellers, of course, they carry the added benefit of being an effective guard against fire. On an island, you may be a bit removed from fire protection services, so something fireproof like copper is a very wise investment. Most fires rage out of control when they leap from the surrounding trees to the tar of conventional shingles. With copper, you’re protected from not only fire but also ultraviolet radiation, environmental pollution and extreme temperatures- durable, fire-resistant and beautiful, copper is a huge benefit in your home’s construction.

Filed under: Safety and Comfort