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Thinking about freshening up the walls in your home with a new coat of paint? Repainting the interior of your home is a home improvement project offering big bang for the buck! Just as important as color selection is ensuring you choose a paint that is VOC-free! Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the solvents released into the air as the paint dries, producing that "new-paint smell."

Recent EPA studies estimate indoor air quality to be 3 to 5 times more toxic than outdoor air, largely caused by toxic emissions of paints and finishes.

The use of no-VOC/eco-friendly paint reduces toxins that cause allergy and chemical sensitivities, reduces contaminant concentrations in landfill, groundwater and the ozone, provides easy cleanup with soap and water, and produces lower odor. With increased legislation and support from environmentally conscious organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), plus advances in paint technology, the paint industry has come a long way in developing an array of environmentally responsible products with higher performance levels. New paints have become more durable, cost-effective and less harmful to humans and the environment.

"There's never been a better time to buy environmentally responsible products," says Mark Petruzzi, Vice President of Green Seal. "It's a lot easier to be green now. If you've tried green in the past, give it a fresh look.

This is good news for consumers concerned about the interior air quality in their home, as finding VOC-free paint is as easy as making a trip to Home Depot! They now carry a line of no-VOC paint called The Freshaire Choice. Today just about every paint manufacturer offers a VOC-free line of paint. Two manufacturers specializing in zero-VOC paint include Yolo Colorhouse and Safecoat. VOC-free paints typically cost about the same as a manufacturer's premium line of paints.

If you plan on having custom colors made by a paint store, make sure that the colorants they are using to tint the paint are also no-VOC. Some paint stores might offer a base color that is no-VOC, but do not have the no-VOC colorants needed to create a custom color.

If you must use products containing VOC’s, take the following precautions to reduce overall exposure to these harmful compounds.

· Increase ventilation when using products that emit VOCs,

· Try to buy products that contain VOCs in quantities that can be used quickly,

· Use products only according to manufacturer's directions,

· Adhere to all product warnings,

· Dispose of products containing VOCs properly.

So the next time you are in the planning stages of an interior home painting project, don’t forget about the importance of selecting a zero-VOC paint! In doing so, you can breathe easy as you admire your nice new eco-friendly paint job!