Considering doing some spring upgrades at home? Trying to make the most ecologically sound choice for your new apartment? Tell us your ideas and strategies for climate-friendly home improvement ideas - and check out our green team’s answer to the question:
Many of us have had the joy of spending time in freshly painted home or work environments. It is parallel to the “new car” smell which some people like. Personally, those “aromas” give me a headache and make me want to run outdoors for some fresh
When my family moved into a new place last year, let’s just say the kitchen was not our color, think “Electric Lime” (RGB 33, 235, 86). We wanted something like a light, subtle yellow. Aside from the environmental issues, I didn’t want to smell the paint for the next few months in the kitchen while it “off-gassed” nor for the 10-20 hours it would take me to paint the kitchen. So, we turned to a low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint. It really was amazingly different – no smell while using it, and certainly not after.
The problem with many kinds of paints and wallpapers is not limited to the VOC’s. And, as you may have already guessed, these off-gassing chemicals stem from fossil fuels and synthetic ingredients. While those present the most issues for human health, the production, application, removal and disposal of paints and wallpapers have broader environmental impacts.
Synthetic and oil-based paints used to be the standard. Wallpaper was mostly made from vinyl – now you can get organic fabrics and wood wall coverings. It is easy to find green alternatives even at your local Home Depot or Loews, although an online or specialty store might have a larger selection. These products are less noxious while you work and live with them, and certainly better for the environment overall. Be prepared for some cost difference, but it is worth it.
What to look for in general:
- Low or No VOC’s – both paints & wallpapers – this also applies to the removal and cleaning supplies, and wallpaper adhesives.
- Look for paints made from water based materials or latex and not fossil fuels
- Look for wallpapers made from paper, cloth, or other sustainable materials, not vinyl
- Spend some time estimating how much paint or materials you need for the job, so you minimize waste – Healthy Home has a good calculator to help: http://www.healthyhome.com/ShowPage.asp?page=PaintCalculator.asp
- For a multi-day job, wrap brushes in a plastic bag out of heat and sun to avoid daily cleanings - (http://tips-painting.blogspot.com/2007/10/green-painting-environmentally-friendly.html)
- If you do have old paint, turpentine or other hazardous chemicals, dispose of it properly. You can start here: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/regions.htm#reg, or just search in your own area for drop-off locations.
Or, you can go straight to Green Seal which lists over 20 green paints and coatings:
http://www.greenseal.org/findaproduct/paints_coatings.cfm. To learn more about their standard, visit http://www.greenseal.org/certification/standards/paints-gs11.pdf
February 17th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
You can wallpaper with printed cloth : old sheets,bolt cloth,ect. by soaking in starch and sticking to wall.If it peels just re-wet with starch and let dry.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:54 am
do they sell recycled wall paper or something of that sort? I am looking to make over my room and I want to make it something notable and unlike everyone else’s. is there a paint, fabric or wall paper you would recimend that is affordable?
February 19th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
old news paper is always awesome…just keep layering
February 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Clay paint, great alternative to latex or oil base paint
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
use used recycled tiles and you can break them down into mosaics or leave them at its original shapes. the bigger the tiles you use, the bigger the space & wall looks.
February 24th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Recycle is the key to protect the environment
February 24th, 2008 at 11:25 am
This is a hard one. I would have to say that wallpaper is greener. There is less chemical in wallpaper then latex paint.
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I think paint is definitely the way to go - purely from a durability point of view.
Wallpaper tends to peel and crack within a few years. A well chosen colour of well applied paint can last up to ten years. Do the math…
March 5th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Veganism is direct action.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
sorry, I answered in the wrong catagory. I would have to answer, paint. Last month I purchased Organic paint Ecos Organic Paint.
March 5th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Where does “wood” wallpaper originate? Don’t Home Depot and Loews import lots of uncertified wood (Feb. Mother Jones)?
March 5th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
As a designer of commercial interiors and a residential renovator (of my own space), I can say from experience that the new low voc paint is a super green product. It looks better, takes less to cover, has absolutely no smell and although is more expensive per gallon, goes much further on the wall than standard paint. Vinyl Wallcovering is definitely not the way to go to be green. Same parallel as all the plastic bags we are trying desperately to get rid of in our environment. Simplicity and natural materials have always been the best and cannot help but denote quality in all types of decoration in our buildings. And that quality shows ones commitment to good design as well as to the continuation of our quality of life and environment. It is a step in the right direction for the sake of us all and our grand children.
March 5th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
wallpaper is ugly!
March 6th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Natural-colored clay plaster is probably the most environmentally sound way to treat walls. Our walls are beautiful! The problem is low durability (cracks and chips easily). I’ve seen a similar result from harder materials, but they are probably painted or infused with artificial color. Check out: http://www.americanclay.com
March 6th, 2008 at 10:04 am
We’ve painted our entire house with no VOC paint from Healthy Home.com. It’s beautiful and has held up well, and there was absolutely no odor/headaches. Two of the rooms were painted while I was pregnant, and I never had to worry about ill effects to my baby.
March 8th, 2008 at 4:12 am
In my house in Italy we’ve painted our entire flat with ecologic paint. The wallpapers are expensives and the man mustn’t destroy others trees to product other paper!!
March 17th, 2008 at 9:47 am
When wrapping up brushes for multi-day paint job, put them in the freezer. Pull them out of the freezer and leave wrapped up for one hour before use. This ensures no paint discoloration and brushes/rollers stay in great condition.
May 4th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
If you are willing to pay the money there are good choices in both paper and paint. The biggest knock in my book against wallpaper is the “fashion” nature of it. You are more likely to tire of it and then have to refinish the wall (a huge waste even if the product is sustainable). That said I am using paper in 6 rooms of an adaptive reuse reno I am doing. All come from reasonably sustainable companies. The key is to pick timeless patterns and get quality product. It is also key to get a good installer so the installation lasts. If you do these things the paper can last for a generation or more (think of some of the vintage Lincrusta wallpapers in historic buildings). That is a real environmental choice. The same key points can be said about the paint. Buy the best you can afford, in a colour you love and get it applied professionally. This will give you a wall you keep for 25 years instead of one you redo in 5. We focus so much on the eco-story of the product (which is of course important) but we often forget that planned obselesence has probably done more to harm the environment than anything else. Even the highest VOC paint would be tolerable if you only had to ever do it once. .
June 30th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Great Job
interesting topic , I would like to read more on this topic and house paint .
August 8th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Providing services for ohio log homes, floor plans, builders, log cabins, designs, maintenance and restoration. The process of log home maintenance in Ohio starts with a good professional inspection from Jaworski Coatings Inc.
September 18th, 2008 at 12:51 am
GBG MLM Independent Distributor Brian and Sarah McCoy offers MLM based business by marketing gbg products.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:47 am
Useful info, The key is to pick timeless patterns and get quality product. It is also key to get a good installer so the installation lasts.