Is HardiePlank® siding a “green” building product?

With so many homeowners and builders looking for ways to be more friendly to the environment these days, many folks come to us at Southwest Exteriors wanting to know if our siding, HardiePlank, would be considered a “green” building project.

Absolutely! Eco-friendly contractors love this product!  James Hardie Corporation, the manufacturer of HardiePlank® siding, is doing their part to make a positive impact on the environment.  Due to the material composition, manufacturing process, durability, and the regional plant locations, James Hardie building products are a winner for both builders and consumers.

Material Composition

HardiePlank® siding is made from natural and sustainable raw materials: cement, sand, wood fiber, and water.  It has no asbestos, glass fibers, or formaldehyde, which makes it a safe building product as well.  The materials are low in toxicity; therefore, it does not harm the environment.  Additionally, it requires far less lumber than wood siding, which ultimately preserves our precious forests.

Manufacturing Process

James Hardie Corporation continually tests new waste minimization and solid waste recycle technologies to reduce the amount of material that is discarded due to error.  They are developing technologies that will enable them to recycle 100% of their process water used in manufacturing.  By currently recycling water up to four times during the manufacturing process, they help save our slowly depleting natural resource—water.

Durability

HardiePlank® siding is resistant to damage from flame spread and does not burn like wood siding or melt like vinyl siding.  Additionally, it will not rot, crack, or split, and it is also resistant to moisture and pest damage.  Because of these durable qualities, it doesn't require frequent replacement, thus taking up far less space in landfills than other siding alternatives that may damage easily or deteriorate in a short time.  Because HardiePlank® siding is a low maintenance and long lasting quality product, the resources required to maintain and repair it are few.

Regional Manufacturing Plants

James Hardie Corp has eight plants located in the United States, two of which are in Texas, that manufacture their products.  This allows the facilities to minimize their impact on the environment by reducing fossil fuel related transportation costs required to bring raw materials to the plant and to transport the finished products to the retailers. Facilities also help to support their local economies by drawing from raw material suppliers close to each plant.  This helps distribute the material consumption evenly throughout all regions of the country as well as reduce transportation costs, which ultimately benefit the consumer.

Green building contractors know that the rewards for using HardiePlank® siding far outweigh the cost, therefore making it their number one choice.  They know that homeowners are always looking for the best products for their home as well as being conscientious about their environment. James Hardie siding products are definitely designed to be safe, durable, and to make the wisest use of all resources.