GOING GREEN WITH LOW OR NO VOC PAINTS

Remember that pungent scent of fresh paint years ago? That was the off gassing of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), suspected in ills from throat irritation to cancer. Now, however, new water-based, fast drying, nearly odorless low-or zero-VOC paints offer quality performance.

What to keep in mind when buying these paints:

1) Beware of "greenwash." While the base paint may meet standards, added colorants can cause VOCs to shoot up. The darker the colorant, the more VOCs.

2) Keep in mind that some toxic ingredients, like ammonia and acetone, go unregulated, so they still might legally show up in paints labeled zero VOCs.

3) Federal government does not set standards for indoor air quality, independent testing groups like Green Seal and Greenguard certify paints.

Here are just a few of the green paints that are safe to use in your homes:

1) Freshaire Choice, $30 a gallon at Home Depot

2) Dutch Boy Refresh, $23 a gallon at Walmart

3) Aura, $55 a gallon at Benjamin Moore

4) Olympic Premium, $25 a gallon at Lowes

For a complete list log onto GreenSeal.org or Greenguard.org