Building green offers widespread benefits to homeowners and society as a whole. Homes built in this manner typically include superior air quality, abundant natural light, access to views, and noise control, making these homes better places to live.
The environmentally conscious trend for green building has spilled over into increased market value for homeowners. Green homes result in higher resale values. Many buyers view sustainable features as must-haves, resulting in green homes selling quickly.
Furthermore, homeowners benefit from state and federal tax credits for their green home’s energy efficiency. New home buyers know the perks of sustainable living, so in terms of investment potential, eco-friendly properties are the way of the future.
What we build matters and so does how we build it. Building sustainable homes not only saves you money in the long run but also reduces your impact on the environment.
This means energy efficiency, avoiding environmental toxins, and using materials and resources in a responsible manner. These benefits all have a positive physical and psychological impact on the home’s inhabitants.
Green Materials: James Hardie Siding
Creating homes with a low environmental impact benefits everyone involved. Green buildings provide cost savings to the builder and occupants. One of the main elements of a green home design includes the materials.
Materials used for green homes are obtained from natural and renewable sources. These sources are obtained locally to reduce the energy costs of transportation and are managed sustainably. Recycled content and prefabricated products reduce material use, cut costs, and often perform better than traditional alternatives.
Sustainability is based on using less, getting the most use out of what is used, and using everything at a pace that can be reused again. The demand for a sustainable environment continues to grow.
Fiber cement siding is made up of a combination of renewable materials, including wood, sand, and water. The makeup of fiber cement emits fewer dioxins that come from industrial processes. The most popular provider of fiber cement siding products is James Hardie, who created fiber cement siding in the 1980s. The James Hardie brand has committed to sustainable practices wherever possible.
Fiber cement has a much smaller environmental footprint than materials like vinyl. The unique qualities of fiber cement are advantageous to conserving resources. Most other siding materials will last around 15 or 20 years, with various needs for upkeep and maintenance. Fiber cement siding from the James Hardie company, on the other hand, has a guaranteed warranty of 30 years, lasting up to twice as long as other siding materials.
Get Superior Performance and Beauty
Yes, James Hardie fiber cement siding is environmentally friendly, which is a great trait. But it’s not the only advantage to choosing it over siding made from other materials.
Durability
James Hardie tests its products to ensure they can withstand different weather elements. Hurricane-type winds, heavy rains, snow, ice, or extreme heat are no match for James Hardie siding. It is designed to hold up against moisture and prevent rotting. It is even fire-resistant and will not ignite when exposed to a flame.
Unlike vinyl or wood, fiber cement siding will last for years, saving resources, time, and money for every homeowner that chooses to have it installed. All James Hardie siding products come with a 30-year, non-prorated warranty. The durable composition of fiber cement reduces the need to re-side homes often, thus lessening the consumption of replacement materials.
Low Maintenance
Although wood is a natural and renewable material, it requires constant maintenance. If you choose wood siding, you’ll need to re-stain and repaint it every few years, which can increase the cost of maintenance. On the other hand, fiber-cement siding is designed to last a long time with little upkeep, even when exposed to high heat, moisture, UV radiation, and snowstorms.
James Hardie offers siding in your choice of colors. Their Baked-on ColorPlus® Technology has greater resistance to fading from UV rays, chipping, and cracking. You get a more even coverage and vibrant color that will last for years. It also means less maintenance for you.
If you like the look of wood, you can still get it with James Hardie siding products. Fiber cement siding is available in shingle styles like HardiePlank, HardieShingle, and HardiePanel that look just like natural wood, but without all the maintenance requirements.
Recyclability
Fiber cement is made with recycled materials including cellulose fibers, sand, and cement. James Hardie fiber-cement siding recycles the materials in its products, including reusing the water, which is recycled four times throughout the process. James Hardie products are asbestos-free and contain non-toxic components.
Vinyl may not be your best choice, because it won’t degrade in landfills. It also requires a specialized recycling process. Wood will readily break down in a landfill or composting facility. Fiber-cement siding is so durable that it will be many years before it needs to be recycled at all.
Energy Efficiency
With an increasing demand for energy-efficient homes, houses are valued higher when built with sustainable resources. Fiber cement siding will help seal your home due to its ability to resist warping and other external damage. You can keep cool air in during the summer, and warm air in during the winter.
You can also supplement James Hardie fiber cement siding with insulation. The gap between the fiber cement siding and the walls can be filled with foam insulation to help keep your energy costs down.
Green Building Questions to Ask a Contractor
From reducing your energy use to improving your indoor air quality, to reducing your dependence on natural resources, there are ways you can save money and resources with James Hardie fiber cement siding. If you’re ready to incorporate green building products or materials into your home, here are a few questions to ask the contractor who will be installing them for you.
Are the Products Durable? You want to invest in an eco-friendly product that will last a long time without the need for frequent replacement. Use high-quality, high-performance products.
What Are the Materials Made Of? When you’re selecting green building materials, it’s important to identify the composition of the products. You want to work with natural, non-toxic, and recycled materials.
Are the Products Aesthetically Appealing? Just because a product is designed with the health of the environment in mind doesn’t mean it should be lacking in terms of aesthetic appeal. If you’re feeling like green practices limit design options, seek out a few other eco-friendly product lines before making a final decision.
Are VOCs Emitted? Opt for finishes with low-VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Low-VOC products, like James Hardie’s exterior siding, are the ideal way to protect the environment and those installing your siding from paint fumes. This is especially true when you choose the factory-painted siding.
How Do I Maintain the New Products or Materials? Your home building materials may be durable, but they won't last long or look good if they aren't maintained properly. Ask your contractor if there are specific instructions for preserving them. Are special cleaning products required to keep the siding looking new without causing damage? How often will you need to clean them?
How Will the Waste be Disposed? Check in with your contractor to make sure they will recycle materials and dispose of waste properly at appropriate facilities. You can also check to see if any unused materials or products can be donated to charity.
Benefits of Green Building
It is possible for communities to effectively meet all their needs without depleting resources and endangering the environment in a manner that makes it difficult for future generations to survive comfortably. Eco-friendly buildings are built with unique construction techniques that ensure that resources are used efficiently and responsibly, while not compromising the user’s health and comfort.
Green buildings can be great solutions for communities and neighborhoods. Homeowners and tenants may not recognize all the advantages of sustainable building design. Green buildings are reducing carbon emissions, energy, and waste. They also increase the conservation of water and prioritize using safer materials.
The advantages are many, including long-term savings and numerous benefits for the homeowners. Perhaps most importantly, it gives homeowners an active role in protecting and preserving natural resources for future generations. Other benefits include:
- High energy performance: lower energy bills all year round
- Good investment: independent from future rises in fuel costs, it continues to save money long after initial cost recovery
- Value: high owner satisfaction and resale value
- Attractive living environment: large windows and views, sunny interiors, open floor plans
- Low Maintenance: durable, reduced operation, and repair
- Comfort: no operating noise, warmer in winter, cooler in summer
- Environmentally friendly: clean, renewable energy doesn’t contribute to air pollution
Interested in Building Green?
If you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint, work with a contractor who uses sustainable building materials, like Banner Construction. We are committed to sustainable building practices.
We’ve partnered with James Hardie to provide the highest quality fiber-cement siding on the market. Fiber-cement is our material of choice because of its durability and ease of maintenance. It’s the number #1 brand in North America. We can make your home look new again with the right type of siding, trim, soffit, and panels.
Our status as an elite preferred contractor with the James Hardie Company allows us to provide the best product with superior workmanship at an affordable price. When you choose us for your siding needs, you’ll receive excellent customer service along with a green building product.
For more information about what we can do for your home, contact us today and request a free quote.