Bay Area Green Building Blog

Painting "green"

Conventional paint contains many harmful chemicals that emit gases into the air, which can have health consequences for people as well as the planet! The gases emitted are called Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOC's, which are a class of carbon-based chemicals that have the capacity to evaporate at room temperature. VOC's are responsible for the smells associated with new paint and can cause headaches and other symptoms in many people.

"Green" paints are those that contain less of these chemicals and heavy metals (petrochemicals, solvents, formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, biocides, and cadmium), while still providing high performance. You can choose paints that are low-VOC, zero-VOC, recycled, or natural, which can be made of plant-based materials. 

"Green" paints are comparable in cost to conventional mid-to-high quality paint. Recycled paint can be less expensive, costing about $10 or less per gallon. It's durability, however, can be a little lacking. With paint, as with many things, you get what you pay for. Look for formulas with a high solids content, and remember that a more durable paint can cost a bit more at first, but the longer wear will save you maintenance costs in the long run.

There are several manufacturers of "Green" paints, including some of the traditional, national brands like Benjamin Moore's Natura line, www.benjaminmoore.com, and Kelly Moore's Enviro-Coat, Green Coat, and eCoat lines, www.kellymoore.com.

Here are some additional paint product lines you may be interested in:

http://www.greenplanetpaints.com

http://yolocolorhouse.com

http://www.mythicpaint.com 

http://www.ecospaints.com

http://www.earthpaint.net

Small steps to green your home

 

Going green around the home can mean many things, from simple fixes to bigger, costlier items. But there are green solutions for every budget. Remember, the goal is to conserve resources, thereby saving you money.

Small steps can include things like:

• Caulking your windows & doors
• Adding or "tuning up" your weather stripping
• Wrapping your water heater with a blanket
• Insulate accessible plumbing pipes around your house
• Use curtains during the day to eliminate solar heat gain
• Replace shower heads with lower flow fixtures
• Choose low-VOC paint (Kelly-Moore is a local company and they make a great line of "green" products)
• clean or replace air filters
• Replace light bulbs with lower wattage compact-fluorescent bulbs

All of these little things can add up to real savings; both in energy and money. Have questions? Feel free to give us a call: (415) 285-6930. We've been green for a long time and love to guide folks toward their own green solutions.  

CA adopts the country's "greenest" building codes

On January 12th, 2010, a state commission in Sacramento voted unanimously to approve the most environmentally-friendly building codes in the Country. While some may think this will have an impact on building costs and red tape, in our mind, the opposite is true. Instead, it sets a precedent for employing standardized, common-sense practices that can save property owners money and add value long term. In fact, the code was supported by a range of building and real estate associations, as well as the California State Chamber of Commerce.

The new code has been dubbed "Calgreen, slated to take effect in January, 2011. Under the code, builders will be  required to:

install more efficient plumbing that cuts indoor water usage

recycle a minimum 50% of construction waste

Use low-pollutant paints and floor coverings to improve indoor air quality

separate water meters in commercial buildings for specific uses

perform efficiency inspections on residential & commercial energy systems

uphold green codes instituted by local cities

This  comes after Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar code legislation in 2007, not because he opposed the idea, but because he felt the commission, not lawmakers, should draft the legislation.

Green design defined

Lots of folks have questions about the concept of "Green", especially as it relates to their homes.  Here's a quick overview. It's really a simple concept. The U.S. Green Building Council defines Green Building Design as:

Design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants in five broad areas:

1) Sustainable (enduring) building site planning

2) Safeguarding water and water efficiency

3) Energy efficiency & renewable energy

4) Conservation of materials & resources

5) Indoor environmental/air quality

Designing & building Green simply involves utilizing systems, products, and practices to accommodate the 5 areas above. Low flow toilets, drought resistant landscaping, use of recycled wood, steel, concrete, and other materials, dual pane windows; these are just a few examples. There's a common perception that using Green materials or purchasing Greener appliances is always more expensive. This is not necessarily so. Many products can be less expensive, or cost more at the outset but pay for themselves quickly over time based on the efficiencies they create. And of course, every home and home owner is different. There are many options in the marketplace these days, and more innovation happening all the time. Many that can save you lots of money and resources. So if you're considering any type of home improvements, it's important to work with a designer, architect, and contractor that can  answer your questions about Green options.