Durability is Sustainability: VISION House Sussex

James Hardie works with leading builders and architects who are constructing resilient homes for the future. In 2023, James Hardie joined award-winning builder, Tim O’Brien Homes, on a new construction, next generation home called VISION House Sussex in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The home was created as a blueprint for sustainable development, illustrating how resilient materials can be seamlessly integrated into beautiful designs.

This home showcases Hardie® Plank and Hardie® Shingle products, seeking to maximize resiliency, durability and low maintenance solutions for the homeowner.

“As we looked to deliver a high performance, sustainable and attainable build, it was imperative that the VISION House featured a durable and resilient building envelope to ensure the home’s longevity and reduce the burden of maintenance over time,” said Tim O’Brien, CEO of Tim O’Brien Homes. “We had our sights set on Hardie fiber cement siding. It’s very durable and long-lasting even in a climate like ours where temperatures drop below zero.”

Engineered for Climate®: The Hardie Zone™ System

Those who live in frigid and snowy winter climates understand the importance of resiliency and durability. The Hardie Zone™ System provides siding designed for optimal performance in harsh Midwest winters. Engineered for Climate®, the HZ5® product line is right at home in climates with freezing temperatures, extreme seasonal temperature variations, and snow and ice. Hardie products are also low maintenance so these homeowners can spend more time enjoying their home, while having the peace of mind that what they’ve built will endure.

In addition, James Hardie’s ColorPlus® Technology finishes ensure the color lasts longer than a typical on-site paint job and resists chipping, peeling, cracking, and fading. This long-lasting durability helps reduce waste over the lifecycle of the home without sacrificing curb appeal.

Our Sustainability Journey: Reducing our Impact

This VISION House Sussex project brought together a variety of resilient products to make this home both sustainable and attainable. At James Hardie, our long-term goal is to create lower carbon products that offer the same or better durability and resiliency as our current fiber cement products like those used at VISION House Sussex.

We are advancing our Low Carbon Cement Technology Roadmap toward reducing the CO2 impact of cement in our products through an investment in innovation and Research and Development. For builders and homeowners, the benefit will be a reduction in embodied carbon across the lifecycle of a building a home.

Our team strives to be proactive, innovative and adaptable in a rapidly changing landscape. We are constantly anticipating, preparing and adapting to new circumstances, including a changing climate. And we aim to continue providing high-quality solutions when working with innovative builders to demonstrate that durability is sustainability.

Three Homes Built to Sustain

James Hardie is working with leading builders who are constructing three resilient homes for the future, including the VISION House Sussex. While each of these homes is in the United States, they are in three diverse geographies and climates - the Midwest, the mountain range, and the mid-Atlantic. Each project is unique, but what they have in common is the incorporation of durable and resilient Hardie® products.

For more about the industry-leading durability of Hardie® fiber cement siding, check out our durability resources.