With so much emphasis lately on eco-friendly construction, materials and practices, more people are opting to incorporate eco-friendly products into their own home improvement projects. Perhaps one of the most common do-it-yourself projects is putting on fresh paint, be it inside or out. Paint can brighten up any room and make it look totally rejuvenated. Painting outside, whether it's just trim around windows or doors or an entire whole house paint job can make your home look brand new. And now there are some great choices available when it comes to eco-friendly paints, so you can beautify your home and add value without doing damage to the environment.



There are a few things to consider when painting inside your Chicago condo or house. According to the EPA, the air indoors is as about three times as polluted as the air outside. This indoor pollution is listed as one of the top five health hazards, and toxic emissions from paints and stains are big culprits. Knowing this, it only makes sense to use non-toxic paints if you are going to repaint your condo or house.

Paints, varnishes or stains that are listed as low or no VOC are the best way to go. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. Low or no VOC paints are water based instead of oil or petroleum based. They also have either very small amounts or no formaldehyde, benzene or heavy metal ingredients. Many paints also contain ethylene glycol which is highly toxic and can cause severe health problems with prolonged exposure.

The VOC level should be listed on the side of the paint can. Zero VOC paints have 5 grams or less of harmful VOC chemicals per liter. Paints that are considered low VOC usually have 50 grams per liter of VOC chemicals and paints with less than 50 grams of VOC chemicals per liter for flat paints and 150 grams per liter for gloss are listed as making the Green Seal Standard.

Generally speaking, the higher the concentration of harmful VOCs, the stronger the paint will smell. VOCs are emitted not only during the painting process when the product is wet, but also for years to come even after it dries. That means you'll be living with toxins in your condo for a long time after you paint. So using low or no VOC paints and stains will improve the air quality in your condo or house, it will help with allergies and headaches. They are water-based, so clean up is easy with soap and water, yet they cover as good as other paints and are comparable in price. They are much better for the environment, landfills, ozone and ground water, plus because they are not classified as hazardous waste, you can toss the can into the garbage and not have to dispose of it in a special way. And of course they have far less odor and fumes.

Many Chicago real estate developers are using more and more green construction in their projects. Several new developments, including some listed here http://www.bestchicagocondos.com/new-construction-condos/index.html, have used recycled materials including glass and wood products, low VOC paints and carpets as well as recycled fabrics on furniture. You can get some great decorating ideas by checking out these developments.

When picking what type of eco-friendly paint, you'll notice that they are divided into Natural Paint, Zero VOC and Low Voc. Prices aren't always an indicator of quality, so you may have to try a couple of different brands to find the one that best fits your project. In addition to that, you have to decide on what type of finish.

Flat paint is slightly duller and in a way rougher. It is most often used for ceilings, family or living rooms or other rooms in your condo where the humidity is lower and the walls aren't as apt to get dirty. Flat paint reflects less and it tends to provide a good backdrop to showcase your furniture or decorating without overpowering a room. It is also harder to wash if it does get dirty.

Gloss, semi-gloss or satin paints work well in high-traffic areas such as kitchens or baths and hold up better to washing and humidity. Always be sure to check the label to see if the paint is recommended for certain rooms or environments.

Natural paints or stains or milk paints are made from all natural ingredients like plant dyes and oils, minerals, water, clay, chalk and milk among other things. The great thing about these water based paints is that they have barely any odor and the oil based ones usually just have a nutty or fruity smell. They are the least harmful paints you can use.

The list of brands and manufacturers is huge, but you'll find a few places to get started at the end of this article. Going green can be done in small steps, and using eco-friendly paints and stains are a good place to jump in if you're planning on fresh paint for your condo. It only makes sense to improve both your health and the health of the planet while you're at it.

Benjamin More has a line of low VOC paints and stains including Aura, Saman and Pristine EcoSpec.

Auro has water-based natural paint products and stains.

SoyGuard as a line of soy stains for the outside of your condo or home and they are water proof for wood.

The Real Milk Paint Company - non-toxic paint made with milk protein, lime, clay and earth pigments.

Vista Paint has the Carefree Earth Line of paints.

Weather-Bos has a specialty line of natural paints and stains for wood.

Green Planet Paints has Zero VOC products.

Sherwin Williams has its own line of Zero VOC paints called Harmony

MAB Paints sells its Enviro-Pure Zero VOC paints.

American Pride also has a line of Zero VOC interior paints.

Homestead Paints sells interior Zero VOC products.

Olympic Paint and Stain also offers Zero VOC Olympic Premium paints.