RW Goes Green
Winter is a great time to spruce up the interior of your home. The first thing to do is ignore the "…as interesting as watching paint dry" voice that's whispering in your ear. A quick, easy and affordable method of adding a new look to your home is a fresh coat of paint. This month, Go Green talks about traditional paint alternatives and a variety of eco-friendly choices for your painting projects. Whether you do-it-yourself, or hire a contractor, here are some green thoughts to consider when you decide it's time to paint.
Eco-friendly paints are like a good sauce because it's what's in them that makes the difference. The new paints have responded to consumer demand and government regulations by changing their recipe. These green paints emit little or no VOCs…don't get nervous, it's just an acronym for pollutants known as Volatile Organic Compounds. These paints replace traditional petroleum-based oil solvents with water. (Not so scary, huh?) When shopping for a "Low- VOC" paint, be sure that it meets the EPA standard of a maximum 200 grams volatile compound per liter of paint. Prepare to pay a little more up front…and let's agree that "we're worth it!"
Bill Tondat, general partner, Penfield Painting Company has over 35 years of experience in the residential/commercial painting industry and recommends that, "If you're looking for a truly green alternative to regular paint products, consider Benjamin Moore's The Green Promise® product." It's an environmentally friendly coating that meets and exceeds the strictest industry standards, and comes in every color imaginable. For details on Benjamin Moore's Green Promise®paints, visit www.benjaminmoore.com.
Another alternative is natural paints. These are usually made from citrus and other plant ingredients, milk protein or clay. Clay is gaining popularity as the most common natural paints. It is made with earth-based minerals and uses mostly water as a natural paint solvent. Believe it or not, clay paints are available in everything from natural earth tones to an assortment of blue, white, and orange tints. Cover your last coat of clay paint with a low-voc sealer to make it kid, pet and yes…man-proof.
Remember the ole whitewash? A reasonably inexpensive green alternative to traditional paint is lime wash. This paint is made by mixing Limestone and water. The wash soaks into subsurfaces and creates a unique, antique look. Think about the transformation that a lime wash could have on porous surfaces like brick, wood, plaster or concrete! If you really like the look, feel free to take this choice outside come Spring for exterior surfaces. Although 100% natural, limestone is corrosive to both eyes and skin, so wear gloves and goggles during application.
Got milk? Instead of crying over it, try spilling some milk-based paints on your walls! Milk paints are virtually odorless and are made using milk protein, casein and lime. They contain no solvents, preservatives or biocides, though some do have synthetic ingredients like acrylic and vinyl. They come in powdered form and once opened or mixed with water, they need to be used quickly to avoid clumping. Like clay, milk is intended as an interior paint and only comes in a matte finish.
Another aspect to consider during paint projects is proper disposal of unused paint, solvents and cans. Tondat says, "Small amounts of latex paints may be left to dry in the can and then disposed of. Oil based paints, or large amounts of leftover paint and/or solvents should be disposed of through use your town's collection drives, or taken directly to the Monroe County Hazardous Waste center for proper disposal."
Visit http://www.epa.gov/gogreen for lists of common green home terms, and links to dozens of EPA Web sites with more specific information on a wide variety of green home topics.
You can enjoy the rest of the February Issue on our website
Friday, February 19th, 2010 | Rochester Woman Magazine
by Lindsay FerrinWinter is a great time to spruce up the interior of your home. The first thing to do is ignore the "…as interesting as watching paint dry" voice that's whispering in your ear. A quick, easy and affordable method of adding a new look to your home is a fresh coat of paint. This month, Go Green talks about traditional paint alternatives and a variety of eco-friendly choices for your painting projects. Whether you do-it-yourself, or hire a contractor, here are some green thoughts to consider when you decide it's time to paint.
Eco-friendly paints are like a good sauce because it's what's in them that makes the difference. The new paints have responded to consumer demand and government regulations by changing their recipe. These green paints emit little or no VOCs…don't get nervous, it's just an acronym for pollutants known as Volatile Organic Compounds. These paints replace traditional petroleum-based oil solvents with water. (Not so scary, huh?) When shopping for a "Low- VOC" paint, be sure that it meets the EPA standard of a maximum 200 grams volatile compound per liter of paint. Prepare to pay a little more up front…and let's agree that "we're worth it!"
Bill Tondat, general partner, Penfield Painting Company has over 35 years of experience in the residential/commercial painting industry and recommends that, "If you're looking for a truly green alternative to regular paint products, consider Benjamin Moore's The Green Promise® product." It's an environmentally friendly coating that meets and exceeds the strictest industry standards, and comes in every color imaginable. For details on Benjamin Moore's Green Promise®paints, visit www.benjaminmoore.com.
Another alternative is natural paints. These are usually made from citrus and other plant ingredients, milk protein or clay. Clay is gaining popularity as the most common natural paints. It is made with earth-based minerals and uses mostly water as a natural paint solvent. Believe it or not, clay paints are available in everything from natural earth tones to an assortment of blue, white, and orange tints. Cover your last coat of clay paint with a low-voc sealer to make it kid, pet and yes…man-proof.
Remember the ole whitewash? A reasonably inexpensive green alternative to traditional paint is lime wash. This paint is made by mixing Limestone and water. The wash soaks into subsurfaces and creates a unique, antique look. Think about the transformation that a lime wash could have on porous surfaces like brick, wood, plaster or concrete! If you really like the look, feel free to take this choice outside come Spring for exterior surfaces. Although 100% natural, limestone is corrosive to both eyes and skin, so wear gloves and goggles during application.
Got milk? Instead of crying over it, try spilling some milk-based paints on your walls! Milk paints are virtually odorless and are made using milk protein, casein and lime. They contain no solvents, preservatives or biocides, though some do have synthetic ingredients like acrylic and vinyl. They come in powdered form and once opened or mixed with water, they need to be used quickly to avoid clumping. Like clay, milk is intended as an interior paint and only comes in a matte finish.
Another aspect to consider during paint projects is proper disposal of unused paint, solvents and cans. Tondat says, "Small amounts of latex paints may be left to dry in the can and then disposed of. Oil based paints, or large amounts of leftover paint and/or solvents should be disposed of through use your town's collection drives, or taken directly to the Monroe County Hazardous Waste center for proper disposal."
Visit http://www.epa.gov/gogreen for lists of common green home terms, and links to dozens of EPA Web sites with more specific information on a wide variety of green home topics.
You can enjoy the rest of the February Issue on our website
©2010, Rochester Woman Magazine, LLC. All Rights Reserved