VOC = Volatile Organic Chemicals.
I don’t attempt to force green principles on my family and friends. If someone asks me for advice, I will freely give it and all of my family and friends know I advocate green and sustainable principles, so I don’t feel the need to harp on them about it. Recently I’ve been helping my parents paint their house. They started with the outside and plan to repaint the walls in the kitchen and living rooms at some point in the near future. When they do, I am hoping to gently nudge them toward using no or low VOC paint. No one in the house has particularly acute allergies but that doesn’t mean its not a much healthier choice for everyone in the long run anyway.
Recent EPA studies estimate indoor air quality to be close to 5 times more toxic than outdoor air largely caused by toxic emissions of paints and finishes. This lead paint manufacturers to develop lower VOC products that don’t negatively impact the air quality while remaining high quality and durable.
The use of low-VOC paint reduces toxins that cause allergy and chemical sensitivities, reduces contaminant concentrations in landfill, groundwater and the ozone, provides easy cleanup with soap and water and produces lower odor. With increased legislation and support from environmentally conscious organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Green Seal plus advances in paint technology the paint industry has come a long way in developing an array of environmentally responsible products with higher performance levels. New paints have become more durable, cost-effective and less harmful to humans and the environment.
The general consensus is that low and no VOC paints are very expensive. There is no avoiding that at this point. A gallon of low or no VOC can cost about the same as premium paints. But no and low VOC are also high performance paints and like premium paints tend to last a lot longer than the less expensive alternatives. In the long run, low and no VOC paints are better for your health and for the environment. That, along with the fact that it is quality and durable paint, is well worth the added initial expense.
Here are some local suppliers of No and Low VOC paint products.
Benjamin Moore
1773 Boston Road
Springfield, MA
Springfield Paint
1042 St. James Ave,
Springfield, MA
Kakley True Value
10 Allen Street
Springfield, MA
Foster Farrar Hardware
145 King St
Northampton MA
Northampton Paint Center
881 North King Street
Northampton, MA
Florence Hardware
12 North Maple Street
Florence, MA
Dakor Center, Inc
251 Davis Street
Greenfield, MA
