The “green building” approach is gaining popularity mainly because of the increasing interest of commercial painting contractors, facility managers and building owners in realizing savings in construction and post-construction costs. That green buildings provide the added benefit of being environment-friendly is another strong factor resulting in its increasing viability. As a result, new green building construction projects are on the rise despite the general decline in the construction industry, and an estimated 20% return on investment is forecasted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Greener buildings naturally equate to the use of green paints and coatings. Commercial painting contractors have recognized the vital role of eco-friendly paints and coatings to make the building green, hence have began adopting green paints for green building projects. As the demand by commercial painting contractors and facility managers for green paint and coating products increased, paint manufacturers turn to their drawing boards to redesign existing paint formulations and develop new paints that are eco-friendly and promote sustainability. Suppliers of raw materials for paints have joined the trend to advance the green paint technology.
The result of the green trend is a wide array of environmentally-safe products and methods that are now offered in the market. Commercial painting contractors and facility owners now have the choice of green products like latex paint formulations releasing zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxins to the environment during manufacturing and application, and water-repellent exterior coatings that are dirt-resistant, making cleaning and re-coating more efficient and economical.
