When it comes to coatings, the most popular color these days is most decidedly green: green for money, as in a product’s cost effectiveness and profitability; green for environmentalism, as in sustainable, healthy products; and green for “go”, in terms of meeting ever-more stringent standards and improved performance goals. At times these objectives are seemingly contradictory. For example, simultaneously achieving cost effectiveness and having a product meet strict environmental standards can be a challenge.
Manufacturers are accustomed to operating in this environment. The latest in a long line of new requirements is product emission testing. With people spending upwards of 90% of their time indoors, there is increasing concern for the quality of the air we breathe in the places where we live, work, learn and play. Sustainable building programs, and even building codes regulated by state and local authorities are increasingly demanding products that support good indoor air quality (IAQ). One of the most popular: the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Program (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), is currently undergoing final review, and an updated standard is slated for release in 2012.