Painting is always a fresh and economical way to spruce up your interior. If you are not careful though painting can be one of the easiest ways to release harsh, harmful chemicals into our ecosystem. Why not go green with a lasting finish that has lasting positive effects on the environment. When selecting paints for both the inside and outside of your home be sure to put as much emphasis on the chemical composition as the you do the actual color.

You should strive to only use paints that are water based instead of petroleum and those that contain little or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Many VOCs are carcinogens and may cause health problems such as headaches, dizziness and irritation of the nose, throat, and eyes. In some case these chemicals can even cause impaired vision and memory. Thanks to the recent cooperation of paint manufacturers there a lot more low VOC paints to choose from and consumers can be easily informed about possible health risks. Remember to inquire about VOCs both before and after pigmentation if ordering a custom color. Many pigments contain VOCs, especially in dark richer colors.

Recommended brands include AFM SafeCoat and Mythic Paints which both offer lines that are found to contain zero VOCs. Among other brands latex based paints tend to contain fewer VOCs than oil-based paints which should be avoided if possible. If you must use oil-based paint for breath-ability and elasticity try to minimize the surfaces you cover with it.

Remember an easy way to paint green is to carefully plan out your project and not buy more paint than you need, also buy high quality durable paints that may cost more initially to save on the cost of repainting the same area year after year. To improve energy efficiency choose bright colors for heavily trafficked areas. The natural reflection of light will cut down on your need for artificial lighting.