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Ten eco-friendly building products that bring new choices and solutions for addressing water and resource conservation, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and site design.
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The company has unveiled two new zero-VOC paints. Enviro Coat 100% acrylic no-VOC interior paint offers excellent hide, easy application, and water cleanup, the maker says. Green Coat waterborne no-VOC paint also cleans up with water and provides a tough, durable finish. In addition, 16 new colors are available for the eCoat line of interior and exterior paint, which is made with at least 50% post-consumer waste paint. 888.677.2468.
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The company has expanded its Aura low-VOC paint line to include Aura Bath & Spa, a matte-finish product specially formulated to lock out moisture and withstand heat and humidity, allowing its use in the steamy master bath. With its Color Lock technology, the paint never needs more than two coats, regardless of color, according to the firm. The paint is resistant to mildew and stains and is easy to clean. 800.344.0400.
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Suitable for interior and exterior use, Kilz Clean Start zero-VOC water-based primer, sealer, and stainblocker improves, strengthens, and reduces top-coat paint appearance, the maker says. The low-odor product provides a mildew-resistant finish, blocks tannin bleed, and cleans up with soap and water. 866.774.6371.
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Naturals plant-based finishes contain no solvents or toxic ingredients such as preservatives or dryers. The products, which are SCS certified, help rejuvenate, weatherproof, and enhance the beauty of wood floors, fencing, timberwork, and decks, according to the firm. 619.239.0321.
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Natura zero-VOC interior paint is available in nearly 3,500 colors (plus limitless color-matching), with a waterborne colorant system that ensures the addition of colorant doesn’t affect VOC content. According to the company, the paint offers excellent hide and durability, dries quickly, is virtually odorless, and is washable. 800.344.0400.
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Low-VOC Paints
The company has added 18 new colors—including churlish green, cinder rose, and tanner’s brown, all shown here—to its paint lines, which include Estate Emulsion and Modern Emulsion low-VOC options. Estate Emulsion water-based paints are durable and wipeable, with a chalky matte finish and a 2% sheen level. Water-based Modern Emulsion has a 10% sheen level, and is stain resistant and completely washable, the firm says. 888.511.1121.
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American Clay study to test customer claims that its eco-friendly clay finish also saves energy.
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$70 million of grant money earmarked for lead-based-paint abatement in houses.
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New Green Building Products: LED lights, energy-efficient windows, solar water heating, low-flow faucets, and more.
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Natural and VOC-free paints are gaining ground as Earth-friendly options that deliver comparable performance to conventional coatings.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new work practice standards for remodelers of older homes in an effort to reduce lead paint exposure, particularly among children. Set to take effect in April 2010, the new standards will extend to builders, painters, plumbers, and electricians working in all rental housing built before 1978, as well as in older non-rental homes inhabited by children under age six or pregnant women. The standards will apply to any renovation, repair, or painting contract involving the disturbance of more than 6 square feet of lead paint in an interior room or 20 square feet of lead paint on an exterior wall.
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Kohler. The industry’s first one-piece, 1.0-gpf, high-efficiency toilet with pressure assist technology, the San Raphael Pressure Lite uses compressed air to propel water for strong flushing power. According to the firm, the toilet, which carries the EPA WaterSense label, can save a household of four 7,000 to 10,000 gallons of water a year versus a standard 1.6-gpf model. The unit has Comfort Height seating and an elongated bowl. 800.456.4537.
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Whether you're interested in working in a more environmentally friendly way or not, soon the interior paint you use–no matter where you live–may be a greener product. That's already true for a chunk of California and a large part of the Northeast, where stringent regulations over the last few years have ratcheted down the volatile organic compound (VOC) content permitted in paint and other coatings.