By Liz Schick
Hearing and reading about the “green” market is inescapable. As painters you’ve been dealing with changes to many products to make them “greener” and more acceptable to various state and local regulators, to LEED-certificated projects, and to meet growing customer interest and demand.
Although there are other issues, the focus has primarily been on volatile organic compounds (VOC) and the federal and state regulations affecting our industry pertaining to these chemicals and their emissions. Even if you aren’t in a state where the regulations have changed or are changing, you can bet changes are coming soon to an area near you that may cause the formulation of the paint you use to change or force you to use a new paint. This might also mean your preparation and application processes will have to change.
A Quick Background
In 1990 Congress passed the Clean Air Act, which led to the regulation of various sources of pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies solvents as volatile organic compounds (VOC), a contributing factor to smog formulation. This ground-level ozone must be controlled by reducing the level of chemicals. One group of these VOCs used in paint are released into the air when the paint dries. The EPA adopted a National Rule to control VOC in paint in 1999. Prior to that several states, notably California, had adopted their own rules.
Today, the National Architectural and Industrial Maintenance Coatings rule (AIM) is in force throughout most of the United States. In certain districts in California, Arizona, New York and New Jersey, different rules are in effect. The northeastern states have formed the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) and are adopting rules based on California’s CARB Model Rule, although they differ in each state. The most stringent rules are in effect in southern California by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).
The chart below outlines the various rules and what they mean to you.
Choosing a Law Abiding Paint
Virtually every paint manufacturer has formulated a low- or no-VOC latex or acrylic latex paint. The change from alkyd or oil base, to water base, has allowed many of the other chemical compounds that proved to be harmful—cadmium, lead, chromium, asbestos, and mercury—to be removed. In addition, a host of other chemicals which were confirmed as human carcinogens; benzene, vinyl chloride, and formaldehyde, for example, have also disappeared.
There is a lot to be said about using these low-and no-VOC paints even if the law in your area does not require it, as they offer benefits that the earth and your customers will appreciate, such as low odor, a better indoor air quality because of the exclusion of specific chemicals, durability/washability, and often resistance to mold and mildew. In a recent survey1 more than half of adults say that preserving the environment is a very important guiding principle in their lives, and the National Association of Home Builders Research Center found that 64 percent of consumers expressed willingness to spend up to $1,000 more on green products.
Because of the changes in regulations, advances in manufacturing technology, and ease of application, drying, hide and cleanup, more contractors and consumers alike are using more waterborne paints across the board. When compared to alkyd products, by virtue of their makeup, they are certainly all greener. However, to meet the most stringent of the air quality regulations and the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for green building credits, many manufacturers are developing products that meet LEED’s restrictive VOC content requirements:
Interior coatings: Flat—50 grams/liter; Non-flat—150 grams/liter.
Exterior coatings: Flat—100 grams/liter; Non-flat—200 grams/liter
Since it’s introduction in 2000 as a rating system for building, and therefore the products that are used within the construction, LEED certification has become increasingly sought-after by owners, architects and general contractors. Today there are 1,000 LEED-certified buildings already occupied and 13,000 commercial buildings and homes in the pipeline, according to Rick Fedrizzi, president of USGBC. Steve Revnew, director of marketing for Sherwin- Williams reports that more green homes have been built in the last two years than were built in the past 10 years. “You are still only talking about two to three percent of new residential construction, but,” he says,” I believe it is going to grow, especially within the residential repaint market, which is most pertinent to a lot of PDCA members.”
How do you know whether a paint qualifies as a green product, without relying on the label on each paint can? There are a number of independent testing laboratories to which manufacturers submit products to be certified: Green Seal and Greenguard are the most prominent. The Master Painters Institute (MPI) began a performance-based “qualified products list” for paints and coatings last year. All testing services not only have emissions and chemical composition standards but many require that products also meet certain performance standards. As interest grows in using environmentally-friendly products, more such organizations and lists are popping up and are vying for acceptance among consumers and the building trades.
MPI’s web site (www.paintinfo.com) includes an easy-to-read and use list of every paint product category and the VOC requirements from the EPA, CARB, OTC, EC, LEED, SCAQMD, Green Seal, and MPI’s own standard.
Most current on the green front is the use of recycled paints for which the PDCA is undertaking a pilot program. The Paint Product Stewardship Initiative (PPSI) is looking to develop a nationally coordinated system for the management of post-consumer paint, which will test in Minnesota in 2008.
While change to water base coatings with performance that now rival that of alkyd products was fueled by legislation, new technology and better raw materials have enabled paint manufacturers to take the lead and produce products that go far beyond regulations, maintains Frank Magdits. Not only are cutting edge advances in producing green products taking place virtually daily, but the companies themselves are walking the walk—establishing green initiatives for manufacturing processes, distribution, and employee health, safety and environment. Devoe Paints, Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin-Williams, for example, all have policies in place that take into account everything from reusing pallets to running manufacturing plants that produce zero waste.
The green movement is by and for all of us, including you, so do your part personally and professionally to be as responsibly green as you can be.
A Short List of Green Paints
Benjamin Moore’s Eco Spec’s semi-gloss, eggshell and flat finishes are 100 percent acrylic latex that have spatter resistant properties in addition to being low-odor, low-VOC paints. Since 2003 it has Greenguard certification which qualifies it to be sold and used in the most stringent VOC regulatory areas. It meets LEED specifications as well.
Sherwin-Williams’ Harmony and Duration lines which have Green Sure designation, Sherwin-Williams own guarantee of a low-VOC product which meets Green Seal paint (GS-11) requirements. Duration contains 50 grams/liter and Harmony is a zero-VOC product. Harmony is available in primer, flat, eggshell and semi-gloss. Duration comes in matte, satin and semi-gloss. Duration has recently added deep accent bases which produce bright, bold colors.
Duron’s Genesis is more than a low-odor, low-VOC paint that has Green Seal certification. It also contains a mildewcide and is crystalline silica free. Crystalline silica tends to occur in flat or eggshell products and is not a problem until it is sanded, after drying. The sanding breaks open the core of the pigment particle which releases crystalline silica dust, which can be carcinogenic if inhaled. Genesis is available in flat, eggshell and semi-gloss and is 100 percent acrylic resin.
Devoe Paint’s Wonder-Pure was launched in 1996 as a line of interior latex paints available in flat, satin and semi-gloss. It is available in all tint bases but does not have an accent or clear base for dark colors. Wonder-Pure qualifies for LEED projects. It was Green Seal-certified but the company has let the designation lapse.
MAP Paint’s Enviro-Pure is a zero-VOC, low-odor interior latex line that has no ozone depleting chemicals. Green Seal-approved, and it’s primer, flat, eggshell and semi-gloss meet every VOC regulation in the United States.
Pittsburgh Paints’ Pure Performance was introduced in 2002 with Green Seal certification. It contains antimicrobial properties that resist mold and mildew and is available in primer/sealer, flat, eggshell and semi-gloss and can be tinted to all 1,890 colors in Pittsburgh Paint’s Voice of Color Design collection.
Rodda’s Horizon interior and exterior paint brand of 42 low VOC products meet three criteria: 1) Green Seal certified—low VOC’s; no harmful chemical components; interior paints are 99.6 percent free of solvents and meet Green Seal’s performance standards for scrubbability, hiding power and washability. 2) Low VOCs—interior <1 gram per liter (gpl)—exterior low VOCs compared to most commercially available coatings. 3) Mold and mildew resistant . Rodda Paint asks all of its customers to recycle their leftover paint.
Some other green paints include:
Dunn-Edwards: Sierra
Glidden/ICI: ProMaster; Dulux LifeMaster 2000
Kelly-Moore: Enviro-Cote