Guide To Home Improvement

Few things improve the look of a house as much as a fresh coat of paint. Whether inside or outside, painting instantly enhances a home's appearance. Unfortunately, house painting sometimes adds more than curb appeal. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, traditional paints and stains contribute about 9 percent of the volatile organic compound emissions in the U.S., the second-highest source after automobiles.

That means some paint fumes can be filled with harmful air-polluting chemicals, including some that have been linked to cancer. Low- and no-volatile organic compound (VOC) paints offer an ecological and healthier alternative that allow you to beautify your home without risking your health.

Home Painting: Look for the Green Seal

Paints that carry the Green Seal are guaranteed to meet specific environmental standards, including 100g/L for a non-flat finish and 50 g/L for a flat finish; Primers and floor paints and reflective wall coatings meet similar standards. The independent, nonprofit organization is "dedicated to safeguarding the environment and transforming the marketplace by promoting the manufacture, purchase and use of environmentally responsible products and services." As a result, Green Seal paints are also absent many other toxic chemicals that pollute the air and contain harmful heavy metals and carcinogens.

Several of the largest paint makers, as well as many small innovative companies, offer a wide spectrum of no- and low-VOC paints in an array of fashionable colors. You can also save money and the environment by buying recycled paint: The city of Portland offers a recycled paint program, in which people donate their unused paint and it is remade and sold at a significant discount.

Painting: Go natural

People have been painting their homes since the beginning of time--and without toxic chemicals. Clay, lime, linseed oil and chalk are all key ingredients in natural paints. While these paints are naturally low in VOCs, they still contain unregulated VOCs from citrus oils and terpenes that can cause adverse reactions in people who are especially sensitive to any kind of chemicals. Also available are milk-based paints, made from a milk protein. All of these products can be found at natural home products stores and through online retailers.

About the Author:

Colorado-based freelancer Mary Butler writes about homes and gardens.

Source(s):

Josh Dorfman Knock the VOCs

Jennifer Horton How Low-VOC Paint Works