| Despite the current economic crisis that plunges the | | | | green initiative by enhancing the properties of |
| construction business ever downward, the "green | | | | emulsion polymers to allow the production of |
| building" trend is taking off. Even when new | | | | low-VOC, low-odor, APE-free, UV-resistant paints |
| construction projects are in a decline, there is | | | | without the need for harmful coalescent agents. |
| increasing interest in green building methods and | | | | Another breakthrough in coating enhancement |
| materials. Building owners want to save on | | | | speeds up paint application time and reduces |
| construction and post-construction costs and are | | | | wastage, thereby lessening serious health risks to |
| becoming increasingly aware that once the building is | | | | commercial painting contractors. Yet another is the |
| operational, tremendous cost-savings will come in the | | | | development of IR reflective pigments that reduce |
| form of lesser utility bills and maintenance costs. As a | | | | heat transfer in surfaces, resulting to heating and |
| result of this mindset, the U.S. Green Building Council | | | | cooling cost reductions. |
| (USGBC) estimates an average return on investment | | | | Green Construction Certifications |
| of 20% on green buildings. | | | | Dictated largely by the growing awareness of |
| For building owners and occupants, cost is not the | | | | consumers over eco-friendly buildings and materials, |
| only advantage of a green building. Increased health | | | | the momentum is encouraging commercial painting |
| and safety is also a major benefit. The reduction of | | | | contractors towards qualification tests and |
| natural resources consumption needed to operate | | | | certifications that ensure their compliance to |
| the building, as well as the lesser amount of pollution | | | | environment-safety standards. |
| that the building is giving off, are also important | | | | Currently, the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) |
| aspects in sustainability. | | | | Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) |
| For commercial painting contractors, the demand for | | | | ratings systems is the most popular basis for defining |
| greener buildings cascades down to the demand for | | | | the standards of a "green building". LEED looks at |
| greener paints and coatings, raising the need for paint | | | | various factors such as energy and water usage of a |
| and coating products that are not only providing | | | | building, the source and quality of building materials |
| beauty and protection, but also help create an | | | | used in construction, as well as the overall quality of |
| environmentally- safe environment. | | | | the building environment. |
| In response to the growing demand for | | | | The LEED system allows point earnings for green and |
| environmentally-safe building products, paint | | | | sustainable projects, be they new or existing |
| manufacturers have been redesigning their existing | | | | constructions, or commercial or residential in nature. |
| paint formulations and developing new paints that are | | | | Since 1990, LEED has rated nearly 3.9 billion square |
| eco-friendly and compliant to environment standards | | | | feet of commercial property or 7% of the |
| and regulations. Even raw material providers have | | | | commercial construction market, and the figures are |
| been teaming up with paint makers to further | | | | still increasing. For residential projects, LEED has |
| advance the "green" paint technology. | | | | certified around 1,000 properties out of 13,000 that |
| A Forest of Green Paints | | | | have been registered so far, according to USGBC |
| One product of the "green" trend is a latex paint | | | | figures. |
| reformulation that removes toxic solvents in the | | | | LEED also has a specific rating system for paints and |
| manufacturing process, releasing zero volatile organic | | | | coatings, the Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 4.2, |
| compounds (VOCs) and toxins to the environment. | | | | that focuses on reducing VOCs in architectural paints, |
| Another advancement in paint is a water-repellent | | | | coatings and primers. The goal of the rating system |
| exterior coating that prevents dirt particles from | | | | for paints is to accredit high-performance paints that |
| adhering to the painted surface, making cleaning and | | | | have low-emission capabilities, leaving as little |
| re-coating projects easier and more economical. | | | | environment damage as possible. |
| Raw material paint suppliers have also joined the | | | | |