In addition to the side-by-side field test, researchers used REM/Rate, the most widely used whole building energy simulation tool, to evaluate relative performance. The analysis found that, on average, specification of insulated vinyl siding over fiber cement would provide expected annual savings of $56 in natural gas and electric utility costs, 448 pounds of CO2 and 3.2 million Btu.

“With so many people trying to define what is green in the building industry, analyses like those conducted by NYSERDA and Newport Ventures are helpful, giving builders and architects credible information to reference,” says Jery Y. Huntley, President of the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI). “These studies provide valuable documentation that insulated vinyl siding outperforms silica-based fiber cement siding in energy and environmental performance.”