Environmentally Friendly Paints the Subject of New Course for Building Owners and Managers

Pat Coady is one of the many professionals at Painters USA, Inc. Pat has developed a program to instruct building owners and managers about green coatings. This course enables them to receive CPD's (Continuing Professional Development Points). His program, "Green Coatings for the 21st Century" was recently approved by the Building Owners & Managers Institute International (BOMI) for accreditation in their Continuing Professional Development Program. Prior to joining Painters USA, Pat owned his own company, Access & Mobility Solutions, providing equipment and services for the elderly and handicapped for 10 years, and served our country in the United States Marine Corps.

From coast to coast and worldwide, the buzz in the construction industry is "Going Green". Whether it's sustainable-renewable materials, recycled products, or energy saving alternatives to tradition practices, there is an incredible demand for green products.

Why go green?
There are several reasons that consumers and companies are moving towards green coatings. First, it's the right thing to do! If you're going to paint your home or business, when a professional painter is done it's going to look much the same whether they use alkyd (oil) paint, a traditional latex paint, or one of the great new green products that are on the market today. The question shouldn't be "why?" it should be "why not?" Secondly, they do a great job. The finished product is incredibly smooth, fully washable, and touches up invisibly. Finally, with fast drying times, low-odor, and low-VOC's, there is less disruption to your family life or professional productivity.

What in the world is a VOC?
We get that a lot. A VOC is a "volatile organic compound". Without getting into a long, boring chemistry lecture, they're bad for you. VOC's are linked to respiratory illnesses, such as allergies and asthma, memory impairment, headaches, reproductive and developmental problems, and sensory irritation, among other things. You want to avoid them if you can. Historically, the focus has been on the contribution of VOC's to outdoor air pollution, in particular ozone and smog formation. As a decorating choice, paints and coatings remain as popular as ever, and consumers are showing strong interest in using green products. An important consideration when selecting green coatings-and a point of some confusion in the marketplace-is what paints do the best job of minimizing VOC's in indoor air. A Painters USA professional can help you decide what product is best for your project.

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
Apart from being environmentally sound, there are good economic reasons to "Go Green." There are tax breaks and incentives from the government. You can also earn points towards a LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design) Certification with the use of these products. Points come from the following criteria: Temperature Reduction, Containment of Biohazards (lead paints and asbestos), Environmental Improvements for Humans and Animals, and Reduction of Harmful Environmental Properties. With some of our products, there is an immediate, measurable return on investment (ROI). For instance, our SuperTherm ceramic coating blocks heat load and reflects sunlight so well that it results in a 20% to 50% (and sometimes more) reduction in energy costs.

This is a product that has been used extensively both on exteriors and roofs, as well as interior walls to keep it toasty and warm inside, without breaking your winter heating budget. Another ceramic-based coating is used to insulate surfaces that sustain temperatures of between 350ºF-700ºF, such as pipes that transport hot liquid, gas, or steam. By preventing the loss of conductive and radiant heat from the pipe, it allows for a significant reduction in the energy needed to heat the liquid in the first place. These savings allow for a calculated ROI. If a SuperTherm application lasts for 15 years, and the energy savings exceed the cost of application in 3 years-you've got another 12 years of energy savings to add to your bottom line.