Decorating Your Natural Home
(Page 2 of 6)
July/August 2006
By Misty McNally
Organic, non-genetically modified.
Fibers, grains and other products from farms that employ sustainable practices, such as forgoing pesticides, will support the ecosystem’s soil, water and agricultural balance.
RELATED CONTENT
As green as a home can be, it's size can diminish its environmentally conscious purpose....
This exhibition displays examples of green technology and sustainable architecture, with a special ...
Look for greener options when investing, and put your money where your values are....
See why the American Institute of Architects chose these buildings as the Top Ten "Green" Projects ...
This project promotes global sustainability stories online....
Nontoxic. Avoid polluting your indoor environment by steering clear of anything made with toxic substances or that contains VOCs (chemicals that evaporate at normal room temperatures).
Reusable. Search for items that can be used again without further manufacturing
(for example, stones that are salvaged from a hearth).
Compostable. Whenever possible, choose renewable resources that can be chopped up, shredded or layered into the compost pile, feeding the soil from which they
first came.
Recyclable/Downcyclable. Consider the lifecycle of the materials in your home, and opt for those that could be remanufactured, remelted or refabricated in the future.
Paint
Conventional paints, especially oil-based types, outgas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through the evaporation process. VOCs are not only smelly, they contribute to poor indoor air quality that can lead to respiratory, skin and eye irritation; headaches; nausea; and muscle weakness.
■ Milk or casein paint (n/r) is made of milk protein (casein), which is renewable, and small amounts of mineral pigments, which are non-renewable. The paint is incredibly durable—it was used in colonial homes and the colors are still vivid today—plus it has little odor and is nontoxic.
■ Natural or organic oil paint (n/r) relies on compounds derived from nature such as plant oils, insect-based shellacs, beeswax and citrus extracts. These give off natural VOCs, and the odors may be strong, so a test patch is advisable. Synthetic compounds may be added, so check for details on the label or the product’s Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), which is legally required to list hazardous materials. You may have to look up the MSDS on the Internet or request it from the manufacturer.
■ Zero-VOC or low-VOC paint (g) is a terrific solution for covering walls that have already been painted; you won’t need a primer if the existing surface is in good shape. These paints, while synthetic, have significantly fewer VOC emissions than their conventional counterparts. "Zero"-VOC finishes still might release minute amounts of VOCs—especially if they
use VOC-containing colorants—but the levels are well below federal standards. Usually they’re lower in odors as well.
Page:
<< Previous 1 | 2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
Next >>