| The Paint Doctor Talks Green Part I: Paints  Whether you are a designer, architect, builder, remodelor or homeowner green initiatives are becoming second nature. You or your clients may have asked for environmentally-friendly solutions, or perhaps green is one of your specialties. Whatever the reason it is the trend when it comes to the construction industry. According to the World Watch Institute, as much as one-tenth of the global economy is dedicated to constructing, operating and equipping buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) states that the built environment is growing globally at a rate that is three times faster than the growth of the population and that buildings have a huge ecological impact - consuming between 30 and 40 percent of all energy used, adding 30 to 40 percent of atmospheric emissions, and using up 30 percent of all raw materials. Further, it estimates that one-third of all buildings have serious indoor air quality problems, making them unhealthy environments for occupants and expensive for business. The strategies embraced by sustainability seek to contribute to the halt of the rapid depletion of precious natural resources, control emissions, eliminate the concept of waste and nurture the health and well-being of building occupants. So what does all this mean in the world of paint? Well there are alternatives available when you or your client wants to go green. Read below and discover some of the options available. 1.) Natural Paints The paints contain no VOC’s because they use natural ingredients such as water, plant oils and resins, clay, milk casein and mineral dyes. • www.greenplanetpaints.com • www.realmilkpaint.com 2.) Zero VOC Paints Paints in this category my not have more than 5 grams of VOC’s per liter. When you add color tints you may increase the VOC levels by up to 10 grams per liter. There are currently several zero VOC products available. I have listed out three paints that our company is very familiar with in the Atlanta, GA. area:
3.) Low VOC Paints Under EPA standards, a low VOC paint may not exceed 200 grams of VOCs per liter. A stricter standard than the EPA standards would be the Green Seal certification standards. Green Seal is a non-profit organization that looks at the entire life cycle of paints, adhesives, cleaning solutions and paper products. Green Seal only certifies environmentally preferable products. These Green Seal certified products contain no more than 50 grams of VOCs per liter – a much stricter standard than the EPA certification. Once again there are several products out on the market. Below I have listed out two that our company has used in the Atlanta, GA. Market:
Sincerely – Archie F. Deese, Owner The Paint Doctor Office: (404) 524-8283 Cellular: (678) 362-1832 Email: archiedeese@atlantaspaintdoctor.com
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