We selected Yolo Colorhouse paint when we did our remodeling. It is Green Seal Certified. They produce zero VOC paint and primer in a variety of beautiful colors.  As Yolo puts it – “VOC’s are the solvents in paint which evaporate easily at room temperature the stinky stuff, bad for people and the environment. VOCs are thought to be contributors to the depletion of the ozone layer, as well as contributors to poor indoor air quality.”

This part of green affects people directly as you inhale any chemicals coming from the paint in your home.  The cost premium was only a couple dollars a gallon. Yolo also has poster sized color swatches with actual paint on them. No need to buy wasteful small sample cans.  You can also reuse the swatch as gift wrap. Quality of the paint was decent and there was no need for many coats.

Most paint lines including Benjamin Moore and Kelly Moore now include zero or low VOC paints, so look for them when shopping.  Large chains such as Lowes even carry zero VOC paints.

VOC limits are set for 250 grams per liter (g/l) for flat paints, 380 g/l for others by the US Government.  California limits it to 100 g/l and 150 g/l.  Los Angeles limits it to 50 g/l.

Keep in mind that a base paint color might be zero VOC but any color tints added to a base color usually will add VOCs.

Green Seal approved paints have VOC levels of 50 g/l or lower for flat paints, 100 g/l otherwise.

Quality make be inferior and more coats may be needed with these paints when compared to ‘regular’ paint, but is it worth inhaling chemicals to have a longer lasting finish?