Since 1995, Midwest Construction has been offering insulated vinyl siding, because we believed in the product in many ways. The vinyl siding industry has come a long way since we installed the companies first job in 1986. The addition of color stabilizers, thicker and better material and, the best improvement, was the addition of laminated foam behind the panel for both strength and energy savings.

Here is some documented proof from the Home Vinyl Siding Institute to what we have been saying for years. Your new American Classic Insulated Siding will save you energy dollars and maintenance over fiber cement siding.

NYSERDA HOME VINYL SIDING INSTITUTE STUDY

NYSERDA Home- In a new study, Insulated Vinyl Siding (Fullback®V siding insulation laminated to vinyl siding) proved to outperform fiber cement in multiple categories. The Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI) recently commissioned a study to evaluate the environmental performance of Fullback® Insulated Siding. The Vinyl Siding Institute study was conducted by Newport Ventures, a research and consulting firm with expertise in the housing industry.

Two high-performance homes were built to comply with the rigorous goals of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's (NYSERDA) High Performance Residential Development Challenge, one in Saratoga Springs, NY and one in Burnt Hills, NY. The challenge was conceived to educate home builders on construction of cost-effective, high performance homes designed to achieve 50-60% energy savings above that of typical homes built to New York's stringent energy code. In achieving this goal, both builders involved in the challenge showed preferences for systems that offered both energy savings and affordability. Fullback® Insulated Siding was specified by both builders as a system to help them achieve energy conservation and LEED for Homes.

Fullback V Siding Comparison

BURNT HILLS, NY: Researchers performed a side-by-side field test on the Burnt Hills home to compare Fullback® Insulated Siding against uninsulated fiber cement. This Vinyl Siding Institute study was conducted during the winter on a two story colonial built by Stewart Construction. The thermal imaging clearly indicated that there was less heat loss from the home to the outdoors with the Fullback® Insulated Siding compared to the fiber cement. The exterior surface temperature of the Fullback® Insulated Siding section of the wall was considerably colder, indicating that there was more thermal bridging (heat loss) with the fiber cement product.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY:

In the case of the Saratoga Springs home, the LEED case study found that environmental performance and visual appeal can go hand-in-hand through the use of Fullback® Insulated Siding. This home became the first home in New York's capital region to achieve LEED for Homes' Gold Rating. Sixty eight percent of visitors to the home found the siding to be "very attractive" while 95% agreed that the visual appeal of the Fullback® Insulated Siding was "better than average".

Overall, the study provides documentation that insulated vinyl siding can outperform exterior cladding alternatives on environmental issues while at the same time remaining aesthetically pleasing.