Painting. The Green, Eco-Friendly Way.
Following environmentally friendly and sustainable eco-friendly painting practices helps protect indoor air quality and lessen the impact painting will have to the environment. A painting contractor should be aware of low VOC paints now available for any residential and commercial painting project.
Painting is used for both aesthetic and functional purposes. As a protective coating, it protects surfaces from outdoor elements. Indoors, it protects surfaces coated, from everyday use and normal wear and tear. As a decorative coating, it is used to beautify our spaces and enhance our feelings. Unfortunately, that familiar smell of paint during painting is a toxic vapor. It is released from toxic ingredients contained in most common paints. The most harmful solvents are called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). When VOC volatilize, the gas reacts with sunlight and fossil fuel by-products to form ozone smog. Smog causes respiratory problems, damages plants, and contributes to global warming.
Low level exposure to solvents during painting may irritate the eyes, throat, nose and skin and cause nausea, dizziness and headaches. Usually these symptoms are not as serious and will subside as soon as the exposure stops. However, high levels of exposure to some of the toxic ingredients during painting can cause serious health problems such as kidney, liver, or respiratory problems. In addition, some paints contain benzene, formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, and other known carcinogens and neurotoxins.
A Few Things About Us and Green Painting
- We use low or no VOC paints where we can, and frequently review the safety data sheets of the materials we use.
- If we must use solvent based primers and other specialty paints we specify a lower odor product.
- We are responsible when disposing waste.
- We aim to buy the exact amount of paint needed. If there is leftover paint, we label it for future touch-ups or use it in our future projects.
- Washing stains off surfaces sometimes eliminates the need for solvent based primers.
- We don't use T.S.P. or similar chemicals. There is a good selection of less harmful cleaners, that work well.
- We use good quality paints that eliminate the need for multiple coats. Good paints can be washed repeatedly, therefore reducing the frequency of re-painting.
