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Many homeowners prioritize having energy-efficient homes. It’s common for most well-rounded approaches to improving energy performance to include addressing areas like the windows or HVAC systems. However, upgrading your home’s siding can also play an impactful role in enhancing its energy efficiency.
How can new siding boost your home’s energy efficiency? If you haven’t thought much about the link between siding and energy, you’re not alone. However, learning the relationship between new siding and reduced heat loss can help you enjoy overall energy savings. Learn how ahead.
Improved Insulation
One of the most significant ways siding enhances energy efficiency is through improved insulation. Modern siding materials often include built-in insulation that helps regulate indoor temperatures. By creating a tighter thermal barrier, insulated siding can do the following:
Reduce drafts and cold spots inside the home
Prevent outdoor conditions from impacting your home’s interior
Enable your heating or cooling system to work more efficiently
In essence, heat in the summer or cold during winter won’t influence indoor temperatures. Eliminating temperature fluctuations and boosting your HVAC system’s performance lowers energy consumption, reducing energy costs.
When selecting insulated siding, focus on features such as thermal resistance ratings, also known as R-values. Higher R-values provide greater thermal protection, which can directly influence the comfort and efficiency of your living spaces.
Energy Bill Reduction
Upgraded siding minimizes waste, which means your HVAC system requires less effort to maintain preferred temperatures. These small gains in efficiency make a considerable difference over time, reducing monthly energy expenses.
In addition to operational savings, new siding can also contribute to longer lifespans for heating and cooling systems. Systems that do not need to work as hard typically experience less wear and tear. You’ll lower maintenance costs and delay the need for major repairs or replacements, building on the financial benefits of new siding.
Reduced Heat Loss
Heat loss through a home’s envelope—walls, roof, and openings—can increase energy usage. Siding acts as a secondary barrier against heat transfer. Heat tends to escape easily from older, worn, or damaged siding materials, but upgrading to a more advanced option means heat remains inside during cooler months.
Additionally, new siding materials often seal gaps and cracks that previously contributed to heat loss. With a tight seal, you can prevent moisture infiltration that weakens walls and further compounds insulation issues.
Here’s a helpful tip: consider getting insulated vinyl siding. It blankets the wooden studs in your walls and reduces thermal bridging, a process where heat escapes through the wall studs.
Sunlight Reflection
Some siding materials offer additional advantages by reflecting sunlight. Reflective siding reduces the amount of heat absorbed into walls, keeping indoor spaces cooler and decreasing the reliance on air-conditioning systems. This feature can be exceptionally beneficial in the summer, especially if you’re a homeowner living in a warmer climate.
Materials such as vinyl and metal sidings typically include reflective coatings that improve solar reflectance. Light-colored siding further enhances reflectivity, delivering even better results over time. Adding reflective siding transforms the exterior of your home into an energy-saving feature that helps maintain a more sustainable operation year-round.
When you want to leverage the advantages of reflective siding, call the home remodeling experts. At Schmucker Quality Construction, our local siding contractors have years of experience working with various siding materials. We’ll help you reap more energy-efficient benefits of siding, from vinyl to metal, shake siding, standard lap siding, and board and batten products. Make the most of our talents, and allow us to deliver customized results tailored to meet your needs and preferences.
Eco-Friendliness
Siding upgrades provide an eco-friendly choice for homeowners, as the production and manufacturing of many modern siding materials use sustainable practices and recyclable components. This characteristic makes siding better for the environment than older, less efficient alternatives.
Opting for insulated siding decreases your home’s dependence on nonrenewable energy sources. Reduced energy consumption lowers carbon emissions, allowing you to contribute positively to global sustainability efforts by decreasing your ecological footprint. So, in addition to less expensive utility bills for your household, you can help create a more energy-conscious community.
If you’re an eco-conscious homeowner, prioritize siding materials that align with broader environmental goals, as durable, sustainable siding reduces the need for regular replacements, cutting down on waste.
Advanced Weather Resistance
Durable siding materials reduce the need for routine replacements because they provide better protection against harsh weather conditions. Compare this to older siding materials that can’t withstand rain, wind, and snow, and deteriorate as a result, leading to energy inefficiencies and costly repairs and replacements.
Siding materials with superior weather resistance can prevent moisture buildup that causes problems like mold, rot, and structural damage. When combined with adequate insulation, weatherproof siding forms a comprehensive barrier that protects your home in all environmental conditions and maintains an energy-efficient performance.
Added Home Value Meets Energy Incentives
If your original goal for replacing your home’s siding was to improve its appearance, rest assured that you can reap this benefit on top of the others. New, better-looking, and more functional siding can improve your home’s curb appeal, making your property more attractive to potential buyers.
The energy efficiency added by your new siding can make your property more appealing to prospective buyers too, as energy efficiency is a popular selling point. Also, keep in mind that many states and municipalities offer energy incentives for homeowners investing in efficient upgrades, including tax credits, rebates, and discounts. Upgraded siding qualifies for many of these programs, making the investment even more worthwhile.
Now that you know how new siding can boost your home’s energy efficiency and provide financial and aesthetic benefits, consider making an upgrade. Start the process with a consultation with the Schmucker Quality Construction team. We’ll help you plan out a siding upgrade that’s sure to result in lower utility costs and increased comfort in your home year-round.