“Heat-reflective coatings are the biggest contribution the painting industry has made to combat global warming,” says Daniel Wurm, GreenPainters Managing Director. “This technology, when applied to the exterior of a building, has been proven to reflect up to 50% of solar radiation, which not only directly lowers heat build up in the atmosphere, but also helps buildings improve their energy efficiency, resulting in significant cuts to cooling costs and energy usage. The direct and indirect effects of this technology should be considered by specifiers, policy makers and consumers for its ability to offset carbon emissions.”

GreenPainters was launched in 2009 to help educate painting contractors about environmental management and prepare them for the green building industry, and was recently a finalist in the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards.

“The nomination recognised the work of the 200 painters around Australia who have been trained in sustainability and have made changes in their business to cut waste, and help consumers find environmentally preferable products,” Wurm said. “It also celebrated the support of Australian manufacturers who have come up with innovative paint products and technology that lower the risk of poor indoor air quality, and can improve building energy efficiency.”

Accredited GreenPainters are now found in over 100 towns and cities around the country, from Broome to Cairns, to Hobart to Busselton. The training has been subsidised by state government funding and construction industry funds.

“Over one hundred painting businesses around Australia have proven that you can paint any colour, as long as it’s green, and that making sustainability a cornerstone of business is not a liability, it’s an asset.”

Accredited GreenPainters have cut water consumption by an average of 95%, VOC emissions by 60% and can help consumers cut airconditioning bills by 40%. The program also helps painters protect indoor air quality, and reduces their exposure to carcinogenic chemicals in paints.

Using Paint to Offset Carbon Emissions

From Dubai to New Delhi to Osaka, Japan, reflective roofs have been embraced by local officials seeking to rein in energy costs. California, Florida and Georgia have adopted building codes that encourage cool-roof installations for commercial buildings. Local councils in Australia are slowly waking up to the fact that they can cut their air-conditioning bills next time they do painting maintenance.

“We hope this technology is adopted in Australia the way it has been overseas,” says Wurm. “It is an effective way to avoid the urban heat island effect, which is caused by cities absorbing heat. Usually this heat combines with chemicals in the atmosphere to produce smog, and also increases the temperature in a suburban area by up to two degree more than the surrounding countryside.”

“As the issue of climate change takes hold on the building industry, we expect more and more interest will be shown in using this technology to offset carbon emissions. Ten square meters of reflective roof can offset 10 tons of carbon,” Wurm says. “In addition, consumers can save between $300 and $1000 a year in reduced cooling costs, which translates into an extra saving of one to six tones of carbon per year.”

Toxic Paints Cost the Economy

Paints containing high concentrations of VOCs have been linked to respiratory illness, asthma, and allergic reactions. A recent study conducted in Sweden has again linked paint exposure to increased risk of allergies in young children. A CSIRO study showed that poor indoor air quality could be costing the Australian community up to $12 billion a year in costs associated with illness and lost productivity.

“There is no reason to keep using solvent-based paints on any project,” Wurm says. “New paint technology allows painters to achieve the same durability and finish without risking the health of a building’s occupants. Children are especially susceptible to chemicals in paint, so builders and specifiers should choose low-VOC paints and coatings at all times when working on educational facilities. The government’s policy is that sustainable products be used, but many tradesmen ignore the guidelines because they get kick-backs from their suppliers. It’s just not acceptable. We are lobbying government  epartments to encourage them to require their painting contractors to get trained so that they co-operate.”

A list of accredited contractors and products can be found on the GreenPainters website.