Sustainable By Design
How Paint Can Contribute to Greener and Healthier Commercial and Residential Spaces
Sponsored by BEHR | By Amanda Voss
This presentation explores the transformative role of sustainable coatings in advancing socially responsible, green design. The content dives into the environmental and health impacts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), gaining a deep understanding of the growing concerns around their use. The course also highlights the evolution of advanced technologies revolutionizing the paint industry while examining the rigorous testing methods and standards that ensure product performance and sustainability. The presentation illustrates how to make informed decisions when specifying paint systems, considering key factors that balance aesthetics, durability, and environmental responsibility. Lastly, this course will review the latest trends in sustainable design, inspiring designers to be leaders in creating more sustainable built environments.
Image courtesy of Behr
Founded in 1947, Behr Paint Company is one of the largest manufacturers of paints, primers, decorative finishes, stains, surface preparation, and application products for do-it-yourselfers and professionals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Behr carries a full line of architectural and professional-grade paints, primers, and specialty products designed to meet the specifications of architects and designers for all types of construction and project conditions. The majority of BEHR® & KILZ® Products are GREENGUARD® Gold certified for low VOC emissions, contributing points toward green building rating systems including LEED, WELL, and the Living Building Challenge®. And Behr is proud to be named the Master Painters Institute Green Performance Champion for 2025, which honors manufacturers committed to green performance in the MPI Extreme GreenTM (“X-Green”) categories*. For more information, visit Behr.com/Pro to learn about products, color tools, and services.
GREENGUARD is a registered trademark of UL LLC. For more information, visit ul.com/gg. Certificates can be found on: spot.ul.com. See usgbc.org/LEEDfor details. *The MPI Green Performance Champion is determined by comparing the ratio of X-Green listings to the total number of listings in categories that have X-Green certification available. For more information, visit www.mpi.net/champions.
Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in March 2025
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Define sustainability for the built environment and apply these tenets to decision making and design.
- Anticipate the sustainability challenges from VOC sources and their effects on indoor environments.
- Describe the basic components of paint and how these attributes impact coating quality and performance and their influence on sustainability.
- Leverage third-party certifications such as UL GREENGUARD® and MPI® Extreme Green™ (X-Green) Certification to ensure confident specifications.
- Explain how environmental and safety interests will advance commercial paints in the near future.
