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Painter To Painter |
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Green Painting FAQ
Spanish language version
By now, you’ve probably heard about “green buildings” and “LEED® certified projects”. No mere fad, this shift in construction consciousness toward more environmentally sound methods is gaining momentum every month. Get up to speed on this emerging market with answers to a few frequently asked questions about the green trend… and how you fit in as a professional painting contractor.
What is LEED?
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) established the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ as the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance “green” buildings. According to the USGBC website: “LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.”
What is LEED certification?
“The first step to LEED certification is to register your project,” says the USGBC. “To earn certification, a building project must meet certain prerequisites and performance benchmarks (“credits”) within each category. Projects are awarded Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum certification depending on the number of credits they achieve. This comprehensive approach is the reason LEED-certified buildings have reduced operating costs, healthier and more productive occupants, and conserve our natural resources.”
How do I as a painter fit in?
Coatings are a key part of the indoor air quality portion of LEED certification. Painting contractors in several parts of the country have already been working with tighter government regulations that require coatings with lower counts of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Paint manufacturers have responded by developing products that help them comply with these regulations and meet builder and homeowner green coating expectations.
Do I have to sacrifice performance to be green?
Not at all. Sherwin-Williams, for example, has found innovative ways to make high-performance coatings that are compliant with even the most stringent VOC limits. Look for the GreenSure™ designation for assurance that your coatings meet standards for LEED-certified projects. Going further than most third-party certifications, the GreenSure designation takes into consideration product performance and other criteria that impact the environment. Only those products that offer maximum performance, long-term durability and have the highest indoor air quality ratings for low VOC and low odor and meet or exceed the GS-11 criteria for coatings used in LEED certified buildings earn the GreenSure designation.
What paints are being specified for these LEED jobs?
Harmony® Interior Latex is one of the most common specs for interior spaces. Designed with anti-microbial properties, Harmony Interior Latex offers a zero-VOC, low odor and silica-free coating that allows occupancy of newly painted spaces. The waterborne formula is available as both a primer and a topcoat in eg-shel, flat and semi-gloss finishes. Harmony is one of two coatings to earn the GreenSure™ certification from the Sherwin-Williams Company for high-performance, environmentally-friendly products. The other is Duration Home™.
FURTHER READING:
Find out how one paint professional has made "green" practices pay off for his company. Download the Green Benefits: Chicago Painter Leads The Way In Earth-Friendly Practices article PDF from the Fall 2007 edition of Professional Painting Contractor magazine.
Indoor air quality and durability: Why both are important
More green solutions from Sherwin-Williams
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