THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
OF PVC BUILDING PRODUCTS
PVC building products have numerous energy and environmental benefits. Since the late 1980s, more than 20 life-cycle evaluations have been completed on PVC building products, many of them comparing those products to similar products made of other materials. PVC products were found to perform favorably in terms of energy efficiency, thermal-insulating value, low contribution to greenhouse gases and product durability, which means using fewer resources.
EXAMPLES:
Energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. PVC saves energy and reduces CO2 emissions. PVC takes less energy to produce than many competing products, and 20 percent less than other plastics. PVC also saves fossil fuels. Its principal raw material (nearly 60 percent) is chlorine derived from common salt. PVC building products are highly energy-efficient. For example:
* ENERGY STAR roofing membranes made of PVC reflect solar energy
* ENERGY STAR vinyl window frames conserve energy
* PVC pipe requires less energy to pump water