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BANG FOR THE BITE
If 10,000 Biters go natural next time they paint their bedroom, we'll keep about 32,500 gallons of nasty chems out of circulation.
COCKTAIL FACT
It takes 570 gallons of paint to cover the White House.
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home › tip library › Eco Homes - Natural and Non-Toxic Paints
You're at the hardware store: should you pick up a gas mask to go with that can of paint?
The Bite
There's just nothing quite like watching paint dry. But unless you're the type who likes to inhale fumes, for your next paint job, go for naturally vibrant paints that won't leave you woozy.The Benefits
- Beautiful shades. Every color under the sun - some even from pigments of charcoal or food-grade ingredients like milk.
- Healthier coats. VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are released even after the paint's dry, and harsh ingredients in regular paints such as benzene and formaldehyde can trigger asthma and allergies, so go for low-VOC.
- Better for the earth. A gallon of conventional paint, when thrown away, can seep into the earth and pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water.
Personally Speaking
Heather's nephew's nursery was painted with Anna Sova paints about 8 months ago and the walls still smell like milkshakes. Jen is about to embark on a home renovation project and is going to use clay instead of paint on her walls. Stay tuned.Wanna Try?
First, some label insight... Good = Green Seal, which means that it's certified to be safe. Bad = EPA, OSHA or DOT seals, which mean that the paint contains hazardous chems that have to be monitored by the government.- Anna Sova - get good coat from a paint that's made from 99% food-grade ingredients and renewables (available Jan '07).
- American Clay - actually a plaster, it's going to be all over the walls at Chez Jen very soon ($14/50 lbs).
- Real Milk Paint - for that "adobe"-style look ($46/gallon).
- Yolo Colorhouse - limited range of colors, but exquisite in all other ways ($37/gallon).
- Bioshield - both matte and gloss finishes. Also check out their all-natural primer and thinner ($30-50/gallon).
- Benjamin Moore Eco Spec - used by some of the top eco-builders out there ($25/gallon).
- Olympic - low-odor, Green Seal-approved and widely available at Lowe's ($17/gallon).
- American Pride Paints - great for people with chemical sensitivities ($22/gallon).
- Ecos Organic Paints - for our UK Biters (£15/1 L).
- Paint Bucket Grid - save paint and eliminate the need for plastic trays with a paint grid that you hang over the lip of the bucket ($2).
- Earth911 - find out where to recycle or donate leftover paint, and check out their paint calculators so you can buy just the amount you need.
Nov 06,2006
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This Kid Isn’t Breathing Nasty Paints
OK, so I had a bit of a "my baby is cuter than your baby" conversation last week with a few people. This was all terribly interesting, especially since I don't have a baby.
I do, however, have a nephew, and yes, he's the cutest thing in the world (evidence: photo).
And let me tell you - he isn't breathing any natty paint VOCs in his nursery. Nope, Aunt Heather got him milk-based paints from Anna Sova, so his walls smell like milkshakes, and his little breathing is easy and sweet (and cuter than every other baby out there, I swear). ;)
-Aunt Heather... off to contemplate how cute babies make for very bad birth control...
Biter Comments...
Ah yes, babies are cute...from afar.
Does Home Depot or Lowes carry low-VOC paints now?
We used the Benjamin Moore line when we painted recently. We're happy with the results-good coverage and no paint smell. We couldn't find any low or no-VOC's at Lowe's or HOme Depot, they may have them by now. We're going to try the American Clay for our next project. As for left-overs, you can always Freecyle them.
Can't wait to hear about the clay project. I have been trying to figure out what to do with some walls in my house that have started acting up. We have an old house with plaster walls and every layer of paint that has ever been put on them has begun to peel off in sheets, thanks to a faulty roofing job. (they didn't seal around the fire place). Anyway to strip the walls would be a disaster so I am looking for a good alternative.
We are moving into a 50 yr old home (plaster walls) needs repainting, and the wood floors (unsealed, waxed) need cleaning and sprucing up. I would LOVE some suggestions. We are on a tight budget, with a 1 year old.
I'm going to check out these paints. What good timing! New to the site, will keep checking things out, checking back. I need to do my homework. Any other tips?
Em, this week's for you... we have an entire week of Home Improvement tips coming your way over the next few days. Keep your eyes peeled.
Em:
Did you have somebody do a comprehensive home inspection? With a one-year old, that's really big, especially with an older home.
What sort of stuff are you looking for besides paint?
I'm so glad I found idealbite, especially this week! Thanks Heather & Jen!
Yes, comprehensive home inspection. Turned out good. We got this crusty old curmudgeon who is a home inspector (retired contractor). Needs a lot of updating. First things: paint interior, replace small kitchen counter, sink, and faucet, get to remodeling the bathroom this summer.
Floor: Oak hardwood throughout(though Oak is soft, right?), unsealed and waxed. It is original 1950's floor, beautiful shape, just really dirty. Friends trying to tell me to sand and seal it with polyurathane. That is probably not eco-friendly, eh?
I can't wait to find out what Heather posts about floors.
Thanks for responding! Will keep doing my homework and checking back!
-Em
Hi,
I am noobie on this site (few weeks). I have recently started greening myself and my home. I am in the science field and looking for greener products. I came across a website recently with information on "green" products. Check it out. http://www.greenguard.org/
Jen
About certification programs...there's a good, quick summary:
http://www.healthybuilding.net/news/060629labelgame.html
Be careful with "independent" certifications. As the article says, often these rely on manufacturers to fund the testing. Being in the scientific field, you probably know how that can go. :)
Ellen Kennon Full Spectrum Paints are available in NO-VOC. (http://www.ellenkennon.com)
They are made using the ICI Lifemaster product which is certified "green" and recently reformulated to be very durable as they are 100% acrylic. ICI won the International Design & Furnishings Industry "Enlightened Product Award" for their NO-VOC and Low-VOC products they have been making for many years.
The "Full Spectrum" aspect is an added plus as the complex formulas do not contain any black (which absorbs light) and each color is blended with a minimum of 7 pigments which makes the paint more luminous and chameleon-like in their ability to pick up colors from adjacent materials which helps them coordinate more easily with everything else.
I am looking for an exterior paint that is non-toxic. Some of the items I am painting will near my vegetable garden.
What about Miller( Portland Oregon company) eco friendly paints? Do you recommend them?
Does the bioshield all natural primer work on old really dirty walls that may haves tains?
Yes, one gallon of old paint "thrown away" can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water. But, the one thing this tip on environmentally friendly paints does not mention is what to do with old unused paint. Most communities these days have hazardous waste collection programs where people can take their old, unused paint. Contact your local trash hauler or public works department for the collection center in your community.
The mention Earth911 which is a catchall site with information about hazardous waste collections all over the country. http://www.earth911.org
A nearby paint store won't carry EcoSpec by BM -- they said the professional painters don't like it. Instead, they carry the Pure Performance line from Pittsburgh Paints -- no VOC. I tried it and love it!
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: JS | November 06, 2006 at 06:55 AM