| It used to be that your choices in paint were | | | | bathroom areas. |
| confined to the color and the question of latex vs. | | | | Milk paint is actually made from casein, a protein |
| oil. However, our increasing knowledge of our | | | | found in milk, lime, oil and other substances used |
| impact on our environment is changing the face | | | | to tint the mixture. This is a very time-oriented |
| of home painting. The paint that we have taken | | | | paint, as milk protein spoils just like milk does. |
| for granted is bubbling over with volatile organic | | | | Thus, it must be applied within a limited time of |
| compounds (VOCs) which are potential | | | | mixing it. |
| carcinogens. The fumes emitted by these | | | | There are a number of concerns about "natural" |
| substances can last for years after the paint was | | | | paints. First, they can be expensive to buy and |
| applied. It is estimated that the air within a house | | | | may have a limited time of viability before they |
| is three times as polluted as the air outside the | | | | become less efficacious when applied. Many |
| house. | | | | cannot be washed or cleaned, necessitating |
| Today, there is a big movement afoot to | | | | repainting to remove the sight of dirt or marks. |
| produce paints that impact our lives and health a | | | | This can be circumvented by applying a sealer, |
| lot less. In fact, we have been returning to the | | | | but that also means more expense. These paints |
| compounds that people historically used to paint | | | | also tend to wear more quickly than standard |
| their dwellings - limestone, clay, even milk. | | | | paints, thus making the need for repainting more |
| Recycling paint has become another method of | | | | frequent. |
| reducing our demand on our environment's natural | | | | There are now companies manufacturing recycled |
| resources. | | | | paint. In Canada, the only one is Boomerang Paint |
| One choice is limestone - good, old-fashioned | | | | (boomerangpaint.com), based in Quebec. Recycled |
| whitewash. This paint can be tinted various colours | | | | paint manufacturers take in unused paint and |
| and can be used indoors or out - as long as the | | | | combines it to produce a new, stable paint. These |
| surface being painted is porous, allowing the lime | | | | paints can come in all sorts of types: latex, alkyd, |
| to sink into the material. Lime allows the material | | | | etc. and are very low in VOCs. |
| it covers to breathe, preventing the buildup of | | | | Choosing an environmentally friendly paint will pay |
| humidity and eventual damage to the dwelling. | | | | off, not only for your environment, but also for |
| Clay paint is available in many natural colours, plus | | | | you and your family. More and more retailers are |
| a few more created with the addition of dyes to | | | | offering alternative, healthy paint choices for the |
| the natural color of the base. It imparts an earthy | | | | home painter. Consider them the next time you |
| look to the home. It can also absorb some odors, | | | | need to paint something in your home or your |
| making it a good choice for the kitchen and | | | | home itself. |