According to the Portland Cement Association at cement.org, homeowners should expect rising costs in their heating bills this year by about 26 percent. However, if their home is green energy efficient, their energy bills will be much lower. In a lot of the green homes, one of the several different components that make a home energy efficient is insulation, which fiber cement siding provides. Fiber cement siding is composed of cement, sand and cellulose fibers. It is more durable than wood, is termite resistant, fire proof and warranted to last 50 years. This product offers performance benefits similar to stucco, yet looks like traditional wood clapboard siding. Concrete and other cement-based products, such as fiber cement siding, used in a home give it added protection from natural disasters. "Green building is about reducing environmental impact, everything from energy efficient and health conscious design to using salvaged materials," says Denise Bottrell, who works in the marketing department for James Hardie, the largest manufacturer of fiber cement.
Since fiber cement siding lasts for a very long time and does not need to be maintained, it cuts costs in half for homeowners. They do not have to pay for upkeep and do not have to replace materials. According to stopwaste.org, "long lasting, low maintenance exterior finish products reduce replacement frequency, resulting in cost savings, reduced landfill impact, and fewer resources devoted to maintenance and replacement." Also, fiber cement siding is considered to be "green" because it does not require multiple layers of paint throughout a house's life cycle and it does not contain wood or plastics. It is less expensive than many other alternatives, allowing a homeowner to spend money on other green features of the home, states the website.
Fiber cement siding is easy to install but toxic to breathe if cutting the product because of the dust. When cutting this product, be sure to wear a mask. Fiber cement siding offers different looks, from deep cedar grain to a traditional smooth finish. They are available in panes, planks or shingles, and many builders are turning to these products because of their low cost and longetivity. Fiber cement has advantages over vinyl and wood. It provides a more realistic wood look and it is a low-maintenance product that is resistant to moisture, humidity, salt air and termites.
"In terms of actually reducing the energy needs of a home, there are many different pieces that are dependent on each other," says Bottrell. "Homes are energy efficient because of the way the whole system is constructed, and our product is one of the ways to make the home energy efficient."
