1. Vinyl Siding
   1. Performance
   2. Appearance
   3. Impact on Lifestyle
   4. Environmental Responsibility
      1. Environmentally Responsible Manufacturing
      2. Green Building Product
         1. NAHB Green Building Standard
         2. LEED for Homes
         3. 2012 International Energy Conservation Code
         4. ENERGY STAR Version 3.0
         5. Weatherization Assistance Program
      3. Less Energy Used To Create & Install
      4. Reduced Pollution Over Time
   5. Financial Impact

1. Home /
2. Vinyl Siding /
3. Environmental Responsibility /
4. Green Building Product /
5. Weatherization Assistance Program

Weatherization Assistance Program

The federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) enables low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by installing weatherization products. Federal funds are used to improve the energy performance of dwellings of families that cannot afford upgrades. DOE provides funding to states, U.S. overseas territories and Indian tribal governments, which manage the day-to-day details of the program. These entities, in turn, fund a network of local community agencies, non profit organizations and local governments that administer and manage weatherization assistance projects for qualifying homeowners and renters.

The scope of work funded by Weatherization Assistance Program includes weather stripping, insulating, sealing, limited mechanical system upgrades, light bulb replacement and ancillary repairs. It specifically excludes remodeling, refurbishing and upgrading building surfaces; however, there are instances where insulated siding provides a cost-effective, safer alternative to retrofitting a wall cavity with insulation. In these instances, many state and local WAP programs allow the use of insulated vinyl siding as a primary insulating material. Typically, but not always, the cost underwritten corresponds to the insulation component of the siding only.

In certain situations, the use of retrofit cavity insulation may be impractical due to the existence of knob and tube wiring, overloaded wiring, weak interior wall conditions that cannot withstand the force of blown insulation, hazardous wall coverings (e.g., exterior or interior asbestos, or lead-based paint) or other obstacles that would have to be removed, perforated or otherwise disturbed to blow in cellulose or liquid applied foam insulation.

In these instances, the Weatherization Assistance Program may allow insulated vinyl siding in addition to, or in lieu of, wall cavity insulation, because insulated siding can be installed without disturbing interior or exterior surfaces. Insulated siding also improves the whole wall’s R-value, especially across difficult-to-insulate locations, such as band and rim joists, and across wall cavities used as return air ducts, which are weak points in the air barrier and insulation system.

Another advantage of using insulated siding is the opportunity to properly install a sealed, air- and water resistive membrane under insulated siding. To establish an effective thermal boundary, the insulation and air barrier should be adjacent to each other. This is not possible when blowing insulation into wall cavities, but as an alternative method, or in conjunction with wall cavity insulation upgrades, insulated siding can be placed directly over a water-resistive barrier.

Read more about siding insulation or request a siding quote online.