Green Paint: Low VOC Paints Come of Age
People are becoming more environmentally aware is recent years and seeking out green products to replace their current non-green products. This desire has fueled a movement of organic foods, alternative fuel sources, and greener building materials. The newest product to dip it’s toe into the pool is paint. Paint manufacturers are all releasing their own lines of low VOC paints. Since, according to the EPA, one of the top 5 leading health risks is indoor air, this movement has been embraced with open arms by consumers.
VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. Paints and finishes release low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application. The source of these toxins is a variety of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Until recently, homeowners had no choice. The VOCs were essential to the performance of the paint. Exposure to V.O.C.’s in high concentrations can cause short and long-term health problems,
Paint is composed of three different components. The pigment, or color. A binding agent, which ensures that the color sticks to the wall. And a solvent, which keeps it all liquid until exposed to air. The solvent then evaporates, leaving the pigment behind on the wall. The solvents are the main source in paint of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Low VOC paints replace the petroleum based solvents with water based carriers. However, even Zero-VOC formulations contain some small amounts of toxins. Environmentally friendly paint is a matter of degrees.
According the to New York Times:
Not everyone is happy about the shift. Many designers, painters and consumers who applaud environmental responsibility are nevertheless worried about the growing restrictions on oil-based paints (which contain high levels of harmful volatile organic compounds), and even on less hazardous water-based latex ones.
Designers have said that consumers are not yet willing to accept the limitations on the new low VOC paints and erroneously expect them to behave in the same manner as traditional paint. They say that in areas of high use or friction, such as cabinets, that traditional paint is preferable as the low VOC paints do not hold up as well. Painters have also said that they charge more for using low VOC paints since they require more coats of paint to achieve adequate coverage.
I have not used low VOC paints so I can not say how they perform when compared to traditional latex paint. I do know though that if I were forced to coat the wall five times rather than the normal two coats, that I would not use it again. No matter how environmentally friendly it is. Not to mention that it is significantly more expensive per gallon.
However, next time I am buying paint I think I will try a gallon of the low VOC paint and see how I like it. I certainly have enough experience with traditional paint to make an informed comparison.
