Today’s homeowners are more mindful than ever of the impact they can have on the environment. From reusable bags at the grocery store to electric cars and more—eco-friendly options are popular, and siding is no different.
If you are considering how to upgrade your exterior with sustainable living as a goal, vinyl siding may surprise you. It is one of the most eco-friendly cladding materials you can choose. Here is a closer look at what makes vinyl so effective when it comes to lowering your carbon footprint.
Made with Sustainability in Mind
Vinyl siding is manufactured under sustainable conditions that are worth understanding better. Making vinyl requires less resources in terms of water, energy, and raw materials than its counterparts like fiber cement and brick, and it does not require the chopping down of trees as wood does.
During production, safety is maintained to protect workers during the manufacturing process. Any scraps of PVC left over from the first run of siding can be reinserted into the production process later because vinyl is recyclable and reusable. This process of using scraps results in less waste. Finished vinyl siding is lightweight, so it is easier to ship and requires less fuel for transportation than heavier siding materials.
The Polymeric Exterior Products Association has carefully studied vinyl siding’s life cycle to understand how environmentally friendly it is. At every step—gathering raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, installation, recycling, and waste—vinyl siding performs well. This study showed vinyl provides 40% less of an impact on climate change than fiber cement and 83% less than brick!
Designed to Deliver Longevity and Efficiency
Another environmental benefit of vinyl siding is its long-lasting performance, which is an important component of sustainability. Vinyl looks attractive, but it is also resilient. It can last for decades. It is also pest-resistant and moisture-resistant, helping to safeguard your house from damage and reducing the need for repairs that would require additional materials to be used.
Since vinyl siding is also low maintenance, it takes few resources to care for it. There is no need to use environmentally problematic cleansers or chemicals to treat it. Since it is made with color added in a controlled factory setting before installation, vinyl typically does not get painted over the course of its decades of use. This lessens the harmful VOCs that paint can release from entering the atmosphere.
Vinyl siding is already an efficient material in itself, but if you want to add an extra layer of energy efficiency, vinyl gives you options that make it easier to do so. Unlike other materials which come totally uninsulated, some vinyl siding boards come with insulation included. For those who desire to take advantage of this option, insulated vinyl helps keep your interior rooms at a consistent temperature so that your heating and air-conditioning do not have to use as much energy year-round.
Easy and Safe to Recycle After Use
These days, it is important to consider whether materials end up in landfills or how they can be repurposed after use. Vinyl siding does not quickly or easily degrade, and this is a benefit because the material does not leach into the soil even if it happens to end up in a landfill. However, there are options for vinyl siding once it has been removed from a house.It does not have to be discarded.
The fact is, vinyl siding can be recycled over and over again. Its thermoplastic, PVC makeup allows it to be ground up and turned into different building materials, such as composite decking, pipes, vinyl flooring, and even new vinyl siding. So, vinyl siding tends to end up in landfills less often, which is a definite plus.
If you choose to have vinyl replaced, you can request that your contractor handle recycling the old vinyl planks—which makes the process convenient. Or, you can ask to keep the old vinyl planks and cut them yourself, then haul them to a recycling center in a pickup truck.
Invest in Beautiful, Eco-Friendly Vinyl Siding Installed with Precision Craftsmanship
Now that you have clear insights into how effectively vinyl siding performs in terms of eco-friendliness, you can begin to dream of the possibilities of having it installed. Your house will have lovely, durable protection on its exterior for decades, giving you peace of mind as well as appreciation for the part you can play in lowering your home’s carbon footprint.
At Beissel Window & Siding, our employees have hundreds of years of experience shared between them, so you can count on us for thorough workmanship that delivers excellence. See what a high-quality vinyl siding installation can do for your home—and reach out to us for a free consultation.
