In some of my posts I have indicated one way or another that man is made to live off the natural environment. The very elements you are composed of are derived from the natural environment. The nitrogen, oxygen and others are derived from the environment. The food you eat to keep you going is derived from the natural environment. What you wear (jeans, mink stole, All Star canvas, slim fit tee shirt etc.) are derived from the natural environment in one form or another. The house you live in, crafted from scratch to finish is done from materials derived from the natural environment; this include the paint you use in painting your house to keep it looking pleasant. But at what cost do you use paint to keep your house in that state, more so when painting of houses periodically is a local government requirement? Remember that because the life of man is interwoven with that of the natural environment, the natural environment becomes a sine quo non for man. You and I are therefore to use the natural environment sustainably. Paint is used either industrially or for decorating building. This post is covering the later.
Paint is a pigment or coloring
substance mixed with binders, dissolved in a diluent like water for application
to a surface. Paint, normally is in a liquid form. After application the liquid
paint becomes a solid film on evaporation of the diluent, in some cases. A
diluent is that which dilutes. The diluent is to dissolve the molecule of the
paint and control its thickness. A basic component of paint is the binder which
gives the paint the ability to form film. The binder holds other materials together to
form a cohesive whole. An example of a binder is glue. There are various types
of paints such as lacquer and emulsion (United Kingdom) or latex (United States
of America). Pigment is powdered solids put in the paint to give it color. Some
paints have a combination of pigment and dye. Pigments are either natural or
artificial.
The three basic ingredients of
paint are therefore:
Composition of White Gloss Paint
(Alkyd- synthetic polyester resin):
NO
|
INGREDIENT
|
PERCENTAGE
|
REMARK
|
01
|
Pigment
|
25%
|
-
|
02
|
Binder
|
30%
|
-
|
03
|
Diluent
|
40%
|
-
|
04
|
Additive
|
5%
|
-
|
Now back to the issue of the cost
of using paints. In using paint to paint your house some harmful chemicals are
emitted into the natural environment.
ENVIRONMENT
- Release of VOCs into the atmosphere: VOCs stand for volatile organic compounds. These compounds are organic chemicals with high vapor pressure. They are found in paints, liquid or solid form. Under high pressure molecules in the compounds in the paints escape into the atmosphere. Some VOCs are harmful to the environment
- Removing paint coat release poisonous dust into the natural environment
- Emissions from solvents pollute the air
GOING GREEN
- Using adobe brick in building houses avoid the need to paint the house in the first place. In addition to avoiding painting, the brick has cooling effect for the rooms in the house
- Patronize paints with low or zero VOCs
- The use of marble in building houses prevents the environmental hazards posed in painting houses
- Use building materials which do not need painting
PARTING SHOT
Paints comprise of three basic things.
These basic things are pigment, binder and diluent. Paints are manufactured
mainly to decorate building, and for industrial purposes like spraying of cars.
This post is focusing on the former. Painting of houses make them look new and
pleasant. However, painting of houses come at a cost, an environmental cost. Paints
release volatile organic compounds into the natural environment harm it.
Scrapping of coats off walls release pollutants into the natural environment.
Living a green lifestyle requires that you
develop a disposition to doing things that not compromise the natural
environment. In this instance, choose and use paints that will not pollute the
environment, even from extraction of raw materials through manufacturing to
finished product. Notifications on labels of products may help you to make the
right choice. Better still use building materials which do not require
painting. Paints, depending on the type and the climate in your area, fade, you
will therefore be required to paint your house again and again. The more you
paint the more pollutants you release into the natural environment, and the
consequence is the more bad air you breathe into your body. I know how it feels
when a neighbor is painting their house as frequently as is required and you
are not. Refreshed as their house may be, they may be causing more harm to the
environment than they know.
Go for paints with low or zero pollutants,
better still build buildings with materials that should not require painting to
keep the natural environment on the path of cleanliness and sustainability.
Reference:
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