ECO-Color

 Using color is among the easiest and most budget-conscious ways of warming up a home and creating an attractive environment. And according to the ancient healing art of Feng Shui, color choices support various states of consciousness: Bright colors stimulate brain activity while cool ones promote a sense of relaxation. (Both need to be used in moderation.) However, while improving your mood, sparking your creativity and sharpening your senses can all be achieved with a simple color adjustment, it is equally important to remember that using eco-friendly paint with zero or low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) will have a positive affect on your well being, too. Simply stated, you want to “Feng Shui” the air quality inside a home.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air is one of the top five leading causes of health risks in the United States. And as experts David Johnston and Kim Masters said in their book, Green Remodeling, given that “American’s spend 80-90 percent of their time indoors, it’s no wonder 38 percent of them suffer from allergies due to dust, mold, lead and asbestos.” The culprit of this poor indoor air quality is the result of off-gassing. The smell of fresh paint, for example, occurs as the paint dries and vapors are released into the air (for up to one year). These vapors later turn into a ground-level ozone when they come into contact with sunlight, affecting the environment and your health. VOC’s have been linked to allergies, asthma and cancer; and to “Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system” (EPA).

An average can of paint contains over 300 different toxins, 150 of them carcinogenic (cancer causing) including Benzene. So, painting your your living room a light, fresh sky blue will only soothe inasmuch as the paint you use is as free of chemicals as possible. The good news is there are many wonderful alternatives on the market but the consumer needs to be aware of what is really green. Many big companies have jumped on the green wagon and started their own line of low-voc products including Home Depot and Benjamin Moore.  Its also import to note that the larger companies still put other toxic ingredients into low and zero voc paints (most of which are carcinogenic) including formaldehyde, ammonia, acetone, exempt solvents and odor masking agents. These are toxic especially in nursery’s and children’s bedrooms. Before selecting and purchasing paint, read labels carefully. Make sure the base coat as well as the paint primer and the tint are Zero- or Low-VOC. You may also want to ask the retailer how the paint holds up in moist bathrooms which has been the biggest hiccup in green paint. Keep in mind even with zero- or low-VOC paint it is important to circulate inside air, including in the bathroom where a combination of moisture and fresh air can chip low-quality paint. Wherever possible it is nice to generate air flow once a day. Think of it as bringing fresh chi or energy into your home. My two personal favorite companies have been green certified by an independent agency and can be relied on for good quality – AFM and YOLO.