Daniel Wurm from GreenPainters explains the options when it comes to environmentally-friendly paints.
In some ways painting is a very sustainable thing to do. After all, it preserves and protects buildings and assets from the damaging effects of rain, UV radiation and corrosion. The problem is that some house paints are an environmental hazard, even if they do help building materials last longer.
Regular paints release low level toxic fumes, causing health problems such as headaches and breathing irritation. Painted surfaces can continue ‘off gassing’ fumes for months after painting. Considering the fact that the average Australian spends over 90% of their time indoors and that indoor air has 1000 times the pollutants of outdoor air, it becomes apparent that attention needs to be paid to the negative contribution of paint to indoor air quality.
There’s also the environmental impact. Many Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) react in the atmosphere to form ozone. Ozone compounds in the lower atmosphere are smog-producing and as they rise to the upper atmosphere they react again to form greenhouse gases. Building coatings are responsible for 9% of all VOC emissions, so reducing the VOC amount in paints is one way to reduce ozone formation.
The good news is that there are alternatives. This buyers guide aims to show you some ways to brighten your home without damaging your health or that of the planet. There are low VOC products for the same cost as regular paints, or to lower exposure to synthetic chemical off-gassing, invest in paints that include only natural ingredients.
Read the full article in ReNew 107This entry was posted on Monday, May 17th, 2010 at 2:45 pm