How green is steel siding?

[mysweetw&e]

We're adding an addition, and trying to find an environmentally friendly, affordable siding option. Dh still thinks vinyl is fine but he will NOT be putting it on our house! We were looking at fiber cement siding but that might be too expensive. . . Steel siding looks like regular siding and can come pre-painted, steel is recyclable. . . I just haven;t been able to find any info about how green it is. TIA for any info you may have!

[Rebecca]

If you haven't seen it, go to netflix and rent Blue Vinyl. It's about the vinyl producing industry in Louisiana (I think) and how deadly it is. Eye opening. Our house (that we're selling) has aluminum siding and we've liked it. It looks nice, cleans well, etc. <shrug> I'm not sure the aluminum mining industry is any more or less environmental.

The house we're moving into is in the historic district and has wood clapboards. They're old and need replacing this spring and we're hoping to put cedar shakes up (if the historic district committee deems it appropriate). They last well, resist rot and look nice, and are eco-friendly.