Eco-Friendly Paints: Low-VOC Options for the Environment

Conventional paint has never had a good reputation. It’s smelly, messy, old versions contained lead of all things and over the past decade it’s been tagged as a major indoor air pollutant. Today, thanks to consumer demand for healthier paints that perform, manufacturers are offering low-VOC options that are better for people and the environment.

VOC is short for volatile organic compound. It’s a little scary to think of anything volatile in your home but nonetheless VOCs have been part of the paint formula for decades. They are used as a solvent to enhance paint performance and durability.

If you’ve ever had your home repainted, you’ve met VOCs first hand in the fumes. The VOC solvents that give conventional paint its liquid consistency when wet are released into the air as the paint dries. The smell is part of the breathable gas produced by the drying solvents. It’s these air born chemicals that cause eye or respiratory irritation and pollute the environment.

The offensive that conventional paints produce is more than just a temporary odor. Even after paint dries, carcinogenic chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde and methylene-chloride in high-level VOC paints continue to emit hazardous pollutants.

These air born contaminants contribute to ground-level ozone and smog. Exposure to ground-level ozone is linked to respiratory problems and long-term exposure can cause damage to lung tissue. In addition to the human health hazards, ground-level ozone contributes to crop loss, forest decimation and damages ecosystems.

These days consumers don’t have to compromise their health or the health of the environment to get superior finishes. Paint manufacturers have developed techniques to produce quality products that release minimal pollutants. Eco-friendlier low-VOC paints offer comparable performance, durability and variety without the detrimental health effects.

Instead of VOC solvents, low-VOC paints use non-toxic binders. This allows considerable reduction or elimination of toxins and less noxious emissions both during and after application.

Paint by Numbers

Any paint other than a natural paint has some level of VOCs. VOC levels are typically expressed in grams per liter or g/l. Up until 1999, the content in paints was pushing 1000 g/l but federal regulations have since set the VOC content limit in paint at 250 grams per liter.

Green Seal, the developer of environmental standards, certifies interior paints as low-VOC if the content is below 50 g/l for flat coat or 150 g/l for non-flat coat. Zero-VOC paints are paints that have a VOC content of 5 g/l or less.

A paint manufacturer may claim their product to be low-VOC but the Green Seal is the true verification. The organization also considers performance criteria for certification including resistance to scratches, covering power and surface cleaning capacity.

The Green Seal standard sets the guidelines for the U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. Green Build projects use low-VOC finishes alongside strategies like natural ventilation and daylighting to improve indoor environmental quality.

Lasting Coverage

A decade ago, environmentally friendly paint was struggling to overcome performance issues. The products were inferior, infuriating to contractors and viewed as just a small, trendy niche in the industry.

That niche has grown remarkably, rejuvenating a stagnant industry with steadily increasing sales. Eco-friendly paint is no longer synonymous with comprised quality and some even surpass their toxic counterparts in performance and durability.

Most leading paint manufacturers have a line of “green” paints including Pittsburgh Paints, Sherwin Williams, DuPont, Benjamin Moore and American Pride. Even Home Depot has secured their spot in the low-VOC paint market with Glidden’s Eco Options line.

Eco-friendly paints, first perceived as a trend, are now accepted as a permanent part of the industry. The shift towards sustainability is due to growing awareness of environmental issues, increased consumer demand and state initiatives to impart stringent regulations.

The California Air Resource Board has led the charge for VOC restrictions limiting most paint VOC content to about half of the federal standards. In 2005, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia all enacted similar VOC restriction standards. Following suit are Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire.

Watching Paint Dry is Big Business

Low-VOC paints are still overcoming some obstacles. The first one is that they tend to be more expensive than conventional paints – the price tag for low-VOC paint is usually about $2-3 dollars more per gallon. They are still premium products but demand is closing the price gap.

Another hurdle is in the application process. Because they have less solvents, low-VOC paints can be tougher for inexperienced painters to use. Also, the conventional drying and curing agents have been removed (or reduced) so they take longer to set.

The good news is twofold. Like manufacturers, savvy contractors are catching on to the idea that low-VOC paints are here to stay. They are quickly adapting to the differences making application of low-emission paint part of the repertoire.

The other bright spot, consumer demand is driving the paint industry to meet performance standards and it’s not just homeowners. The U.S. Green Build Council LEED program recognizes low-VOC paint as an indoor environmental quality guideline and over 75% of LEED certified buildings incorporate this element.

Most LEED projects are large-scale, commercial endeavors with big budgets for low-VOC architectural finishes that don’t aggravate their contractors or disappoint their clients. Translation: paint manufacturers are competing in variety, durability and performance. Better products are continually emerging and prices are on a downward trend.

If you’ve tried eco-friendly paints in the past and been disappointed, take another look. Today’s choices offer beautiful, environmentally responsible alternatives that perform without polluting. Use the helpful links below to learn more.

*Note: The information in this article is general advice and not meant as a substitute for personal guidance from a financial advisor, real estate professional, home improvement contractor or legal counsel. Although the author is a licensed realtor, the advice given in this article does not constitute any client contract or agreement between the author and the user. The author is not responsible for any losses, damages or claims that may result from your decisions.