According to the Census Bureau, 36% of new single-family homes completed last year installed vinyl siding as the primary type of exterior wall material, followed by brick (23%), stucco (17%), and fiber cement (13%). Vinyl is the most popular siding material on the market for a number of reasons: durability, wind resistance, moisture-resistance, cost-effectiveness, and more. But what many people don’t realize is that vinyl siding is a great option for homeowners who are “going green.” As a matter of fact, vinyl ranks as one of the most environmentally friendly exterior materials today, as validated by life cycle assessment using Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) software and published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Vinyl Siding Requires Less Energy
Did you know that the manufacturing of vinyl siding requires less energy and creates fewer emissions than most other exterior cladding products? Research shows that manufacturing brick requires about five times more energy than the creation of vinyl. And throughout its lifecycle, vinyl releases fewer toxic chemicals into the environment than other siding materials. In comparison, fiber cement has almost three times the environmental impact of vinyl siding, and brick has nearly five times the environmental impact.
Vinyl is Highly Recyclable
Of course, cedar siding is the most environmentally friendly of all the siding materials, but according to the Vinyl Siding Institute, vinyl is highly recyclable, with 99% of all manufactured vinyl being made into products rather than being sent to a landfill. And wood may be renewable, but vinyl does not come with all the durability concerns that accompany wood siding, like swelling, cracking, warping, insect damage, and repainting. When wood siding becomes damaged, you have no choice but to replace it. Relying on professional siding installation year after year is not so environmentally friendly, is it?
Whether you’re building a brand new home or replacing the siding on your current house, when you need new siding you’re faced with a lot of options. Some types of siding will clearly be better than others, but some things will surprise you — like the “green” traits of vinyl! No matter what you choose, however, you know you can rely on the professional siding installation team at ROOFWORKS.
