This time of year it’s pretty common to refresh the paint inside and outside your abode. Have you ever considered how paint affects the exterior and interior environment? If not, here are a few things to consider:

If pregnant women aren’t supposed to be exposed to paint fumes, maybe it’s time to rethink why ANYONE would want to take on that risk. I ALWAYS specify zero-VOC, low (or no) odor water-based paint to reduce the load on our environment and improve indoor air quality (IAQ), which is affected not only by the immediate toxins but the continued off-gassing of finishes. Yes, there are many things that contribute to a toxic environment but when you think about it, the volume of surfaces that surround us is pretty significant. So, here are some options regarding interior Zero-VOC paint choices, all of which are Greenguard Gold Certified. A Greenguard Gold certification means that a product emits even fewer VOCs than the standard Greenguard certification. To be clear, I am not an affiliate of any of these companies. Also, if you add saturated tint to these paints, the VOC load can increase:

Behr Pro i300 or Premium Plus can be found at Home Depot. This paint is low-odor (not odor-free), so it’s a good idea for the room(s) being painted to be well-ventilated until the paint dries. The odor is very faint and once the paint has dried and cured, there is no residual odor, so it’s safe for pregnant women, kids, and pets. This goes for all VOC-free, low-odor paint.

ECOS standard line Zero VOC and low-odor. They also make a line of Air Purifying paint that will actually help improve the IAQ by reducing other toxins.

Sherwin-Williams Harmony interior paint is another unique zero-VOC option with advanced technology that has an air air-purifying element, odor-eliminating technology, and it’s anti-microbial. Win-win-win!

Geen Planet soy-based paint is an eco-friendly interior and exterior line. This line is BioPreferred, which is a voluntary program that applies to products that contain sustainable natural materials.

These are only a few sustainable paint options. Most large paint companies make zero-VOC or VOC-free paint, and there are several eco-friendly specialty paint lines as well. A simple online search will net a plethora of choices. Learn to read the labels of all the products you use both in and around your home. Since things like paint and flooring cover so much surface, starting with those finishes is a good idea.

While you’re at it, add live plants throughout your living spaces, They naturally filter toxins and have the added benefit of infusing your space with oxygen, thus improving the overall indoor air quality!

If you have further questions or want to schedule a consultation with me, please feel free to contact me HERE