Many of us make an effort to keep our world greener. We recycle, turn the lights off when we leave the room and try not to use too many paper plates. We want to lead lives that are kind to our planet, replenishing the earth’s resources for our children and grandchildren.
When you think about making your Central, CT home a greener place to live, selecting an eco-friendly wall paint may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But if you take a walk down the paint aisle of your local hardware store, you are bound to notice the new green, earth-friendly options for both interior and exterior house paint. So what makes some paint greener than others?
At this point, there is no EPA standard for what makes particular paint brands an eco-friendly choice. The truth is that most organizations and companies disagree about the standards used to measure the environmental impact of interior paint. When it comes to quantifiable agents like chemical tinting and fungicides, different companies have different standards, and we are left with questions. You may have heard the term “Low VOC,” but without a degree in biochemistry, how is the average consumer supposed to digest and integrate these terms into an informed choice?
Below are more details for understanding what makes a paint brand green and how it affects your paint job as well as our environment.
Understanding VOCs
This acronym has experienced some hype in the past few years, which is a good thing. VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are chemicals that can affect the air quality in your home for about a month after an interior paint application. VOCs not only leech into the air of your home, they can also be harmful to the environment once you open your windows and doors.
When selecting your interior paint brand and finish, pay attention to the VOC content and consider what level is appropriate for your paint job. For living rooms and children’s spaces, lower VOC is the wisest choice. Most latex paint brands will provide you will several appropriate choices.
Additives and Pigments
Additives and pigments are the tricky little buggers that provide you with the paint colors you crave. They also contain preservatives to extend the shelf life of your wall paint, so you can keep it around for touch-ups without finding any mold in your paint can. Some experts have starting asking questions about the long term effects of these chemicals, especially when used frequently by painters and contractors.
If the potential effects concern you in the scope of your paint job, select a paint brand that contains no biocides or fungicides and gets its color all from natural pigmentation. This may limit you in your paint color options, as there might not be as many choices with completely organic paint brands.
Wise Paint Disposal
The best way to decrease the environmental impact of your painting project is to dispose of unused paint properly. If you don’t, you can cause groundwater contamination in your water supply, which is why paint should never be poured down the drain.
If you have an empty paint can, disposal is simple. Allow the can to dry out completely before tossing it in the garbage. If this is not the case, take a look at the regulations for disposal in your area or consider donating it for reuse and recycling. Connecticut has several Paint Care locations where you can recycle paint at no cost.
Our painters are here to give you the paint job you want and are happy to discuss your paint selections and design ideas, working with you to make a greener paint job. Get in touch with us for your free estimate and let us transform your Hartford, CT home with little to no impact on our beautiful state.
