Green Painting Techniques

By Author: Alan Silverstein
Total Articles: 4762
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In our increasingly eco-conscious society, paint and paint techniques are evolving away from old, non-environmental ways and moving toward more environmentally-sensitive methods designed to minimize toxins and waste.

Many consumers and contractors are concerned about how the paint products they choose will ultimately affect the world around them. This has lead to an increased interest in the use of environmentally responsible alternatives to standard paints and painting techniques.

As a result, paint manufacturers are answering to the green building movement by developing paints that contain fewer chemicals and pollution-producing compounds. In order to meet stricter government requirements as well as public demand, paint companies have been focusing considerable research into earth-friendly paints and painting products that can replicate the appearance and consistency of traditional oil-based paints and high VOC water based paints.

A significant problem with traditional paints is that they tend to contain a high volume of Volatile Organic Chemicals or Compounds (VOC's). High VOC paints are known to release ...
... hydrocarbons into the atmosphere during and after application. Studies have shown that VOC's in paint is a major contributor to air pollution and green-house gasses.

In addition to air pollution, the solvents found in many oil based paints, if discarded improperly, can wreak mayhem on the environment. While there's little risk of a onetime encounter doing any serious damage, the environmental build-up over time can irreparably harm the earth. With so much paint being used every day worldwide, it's important to curb these polluting effects through green painting techniques.

What is Green-Painting?
Green Painting entails replacing traditional oil-based paints (which tend to have a very high VOC count), with paints engineered to lower or eliminate environmental strains associated with traditional or conventional paints. These new paints, known as Low VOC, Zero VOC, or natural paints are a much gentler alternative to other paints, primarily because they use water, rather than petroleum-based solvents, as a carrier. This significantly reduces the amount of polluting emissions.

Buying Green-Paint
These Low VOC products are regulated to have certified VOC ratings in order to meet Environmental Protection Agency standards. When purchasing paint, you can determine if it is green-friendly if the can says it is LEED certified, which indicates an acceptably low VOC count. In many instances these eco-friendly paints are now being legally mandated as the paint to be used on commercial and public property. Although there are not as many laws regulating the kind of paint that must be used for private property, countless homeowners are turning to green paint out of concern for their health and the health of the planet.

Green Painting Techniques
In general, green-painting techniques require less equipment and cost less than painting with oil-based paints. However, even if you are using a Low VOC paint, you can still increase the benefit by employing some simple, environmentally-friendly painting techniques like these:

Don't Waste Paint: Try to use all the paint you've purchased in order to eliminate the need for disposing of unused paints. If you have leftover paint at the end of a project, look around for other small projects where you might be able to use it around the home. Most everyone's closet interiors can benefit from a fresh coat of paint.

Exact Measurements: Before you paint, carefully measure the space you will be painting in order to make sure you don't over-purchase, and thus waste, paint. By selecting stock paint colors instead of custom colors, any unopened paint can be returned to the paint store. Even though this limits the colors you can select, you have the satisfaction of using only the exact amount of paint needed for your job. Plus you get your money back for any unopened paint you return.

Environmental Painting Techniques: Wrap your brushes and rollers in plastic each night instead of wasting water by washing them out. Learn how to wash your brushes and rollers with a minimum of water when you do clean them. Wash brushes and rollers in a five gallon bucket while using a minimum of water.

Waste Depot: Find out if your community has a waste depot or toxic round up center. If it does, consider taking your waste water from tool washing to the waste depot. Keep your carefully washed brushes and rollers wrapped and ready for your next job. When it comes to the environment, every little bit of effort can make a difference.

Donate your paint: Call around to local charities or schools. Find out if they accept water based paint donations. Some organizations gather paint for graffiti removal or community service days. They welcome used interior and exterior paint.

Whether you're a do-it-yourself painter, or hire a painting contractor, visit an internet discussion board and ask questions about the best way to paint while being kind to the environment.
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