What does the “green” label on your paint can mean?

A quick reminder: Many of you have sent in answers, but not to all of the questions. You can still catch up.

The more you answer, the better your chances of winning a $600 organic comforter from Vivetique Sleep Systems or a room’s worth of Earthpaint. So don’t delay.

Here is Question No. 4: Of the following the “green” certifications available to test paint, which prohibit any level of an ingredient this is a known carcinogen, mutagen, reproductive toxin, hazardous air pollutant (HAP) or ozone-depleting compound? Read the rest of this entry »

“Green” certifications that test chemical emissions don’t require compliance until long after the paint is dry

GREENGUARD®, Green Seal and SCS Indoor Advantage Gold. They’re all top third-party certifications designed to help us choose paint that will not make the air in our homes dangerous to breathe.

But while these labels mean chemical emissions have been measured — or in the case of Green Seal dangerous ingredients have been prohibited — none of them tells us what we are breathing at the time the paint is being applied. And certifications that test chemical emissions don’t require compliance with safety limits until 14 days after the paint is dry.

“When it comes to verifying sustainable claims, it may be wiser to start by being a ‘doubting Thomas’ instead of a ‘gullible Pollyanna’ …,” says Michael Mauch, AIA, LEED AP and principal of RWA Architects in Cincinnati, OH. “Third-party verification is supposed to work like Politifact — an organization to sort out the truth. But third-party verification is not a perfect system. In theory, it works, but in reality, there are many influences that can sway the outcome.” Read the rest of this entry »