Home Improvement

What are Volatile Organic Compounds?

If you read this blog, you're likely to hear a lot about volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. It occurred to me that not everyone knows that VOCs are. Or maybe, like me, you've read about them, but the terminology that you came across is so scientific that it's nearly impossible to make any sense of.

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Natural Paint – Good for your Health, Good for the Environment

Clay Paint

Recently, we talked about two eco friendly paint options, low VOC paint and zero VOC paint. Another, even healthier paint option is Natural Paint.

Natural paints are paints that are made from all natural ingredients, and as such, are the most eco friendly options on the market. While these paints are extremely eco-friendly, they aren’t for every situation. Take a look at the natural paints that are available on the market and see if any are right for you!

Clay Paint:Clay paint is made from all natural minerals and uses a water base instead of an oil base. Clay paint is safe for both people and the environment. However, because clay paint is made from minerals – it’s not available in a wide range of colors. Clay paint can also only be used indoors. If the “earthy” look is something that you like, clay paint may be a great choice for you.

Milk Paint: Milk paint has been around for quite some time and has been proven to be a high-quality environmentally friendly alternative. Milk paint is made by separating Casein from milk. It’s then mixed with water, clay, and other earth pigments. The result is a paint that is eco friendly and easy to apply. This paint is readily available and can even be bought in powered form. When you are ready to use it, you simply add water and start painting. The main downfall to milk paint is that it can only be used indoors. It’s also only available in a matte finish, so it may not be the best choice for your kitchen or bathroom.

Lime Wash: Limewash is a wonderful alternative to other paints on the market. It’s economical and easy to apply. Lime wash is made by combining limestone and water. One of the key benefits to lime wash is that it can be used on exterior surfaces. The major downfall to lime wash is that it can only be used on porous surfaces, meaning that it can’t be used on drywall or any painted surface. It does very well on brick, wood, concrete, plaster, etc. However…paint will have to be removed before lime wash can be applied.

If you are looking for new ways to become more eco friendly, consider going with a natural paint choice. You’ll be doing the environment a favor while also creating a healthier indoor environment for you and your family.

Green Cabinets for Kitchen

If you are planning on updating the cabinetry in your kitchen, take the time to consider green cabinets. There are actually lots of things that you can do if you’d like to make your kitchen a little more eco friendly.

Here’s just a few green cabinet ideas to get you started:

• Consider Using What You Already Have: Yes, I know using what you have sort of defeats the purpose of new kitchen cabinets. However, it is worth considering. If you are basically happy with the layout of your current kitchen and your cabinetry is well-built and high quality, it’s entirely possible that you could reface what you already have. In case you are wondering what makes this more eco friendly than replacing the whole thing – it’s really simple. Refacing what you already have means that you use less materials. Using less material is always a green thing to do.
• Donate Your Old Cabinets: If your current cabinets are in good condition, be eco friendly and a good citizen and donate them to someone who can get additional use out of them.  Habitat for Humanity has a great program called ReStore that accepts all kinds of building materials and used household items, like cabinets. Donations are tax-deductible.
• How About Buying Used: Depending on your needs, the style of your kitchen, and your budget, buying used may be a great alternative and will definitely give you green cabinets – certainly more eco friendly than buying new. Adding new hardware to a set a cabinetry that you like can make it perfect for your kitchen.

If you are absolutely set on purchasing new cabinetry for your home, here are some things that you’ve absolutely got to consider

• Check for FSC Certified Wood: If you are planning to purchase wood cabinetry, look for the use of wood that has been grown in FSC-certified forests. These are managed forests and steps are taken to make sure that trees are replanted for those that are cut down.
• Consider Metal: Metal is a much more renewable product than wood. If you have a contemporary kitchen, metal or stainless steel cabinets might be a perfect option for you.
• Buy Less or Leave Some Open: This goes back to the concept that using less of anything is a green thing to do. Consider reducing the total amount of cabinet space that you install or leaving some of your cabinets open (ie. not installing faces on them)
• Watch Very Closely for VOCs & Urea Formaldeyde: Almost all cabinets are in some way glued together. They also often have a finish added.  This may be one of the most important things that you pay attention to because VOCs and Urea Formaldehyde are a health risk and contribute to poor indoor air quality.  The major problem is that items that contain VOCs continue to emit them for up to 5 years, or longer in some cases.  If you do purchase cabinets with VOCs, make sure that you unpack them outdoors and give them some time to air out before bringing them in your home. They’ll still emit fumes, but the majority of the harmful fumes are emitted within the first hours and days.
• Look for Recycled or Reclaimed Wood: Of course, recycled & reclaimed materials will give you a greener product than using virgin products. They also often have great character and can really give your kitchen a great look and feel.

The bottom line is that you can get a new look in your kitchen while being responsible through the use of green cabinets!

Green Kitchen Cabinets