As I have watched and participated in the growth of the green building movement over the past decade, two things stand out about our products: their resource efficiency (yes, our products are thin yet extremely durable) and the ability of our products to last for a long time without having to be maintained with other products that might impact the environment).
As a consensus committee member representing our industry during the development of the National Green Building Standard, I pushed for logical green concepts that revolve around durability and long building life, strong attributes of our products. In fact, we have a longstanding simple yet effective credit in the NGBS that applies to products that don’t require additional finish or maintenance once applied. After all, products that don’t require additional materials to maintain their product life are great for the environment. That, in my mind, is true durability (and low maintenance)!
To continue our efforts in promoting leadership in green building and sustainability in the residential industry, I was pleased to be asked to chair NAHB’s Green and Sustainability Subcommittee. NAHB continues to grow its green program and Home Innovation lab manages the program that verifies structures are in compliance to certain levels of the National Green Building Standard. In fact, many of our products are green verified products!
As we move into 2016 with high expectations for a great year, let’s not forget that our products are some of the best on the markets for many reasons, not the least of which is the positive impact our products have on the environment versus many other types of cladding.
P.S.: Later this year, our industry will release our industry wide Environmental Product Declarations which will give us another opportunity to tout our great greenness!
Matt is the Vice President, Code and Regulatory at the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI)