Sweet Home

Having been out of the baby demographic for 5+ years, I am amazed at the expanded greener choices there is for a parent. The cloth vs disposable debate goes on, but options from fabric to bottles have grown exponentially. Babies heighten concern about indoor air quality. Since our wood shop does wood finishing, I think a lot about the topic already. It's in the best interest of my employees, my customers and children (and me) to use the healthiest possible choices.

There are "low", "no" and "zero" VOC labels. LEED credits can be earned by using low-VOC paints and finishes. VOC stands for "volatile organic compound", but what is that? VOC has entered our lexicon as "bad" across the board to the chemically sensitive and air quality advocates, but here's the complicated part, anything you smell is a VOC, like the smell of a rose.

Our preferred hand-rubbed, finish in the shop uses a solvent made from orange peel. It's 100% VOC. Yes. 100%. Smells delicious. It would burn your eyes if you are sensitive, but I know not to rub orange peel in my eyes, but I am comfortable to inhale it while its drying and have it in my home. It doesn't fit the "VOCs are all bad" definition.

I earned my college science credits on the beach, so I called Mike Price at Treehouse Lab, for some additional guidance to explain the disconnect. He used words like "cyclic hydro-carbon," but I'll share the chemistry for art majors version.

In fact, it isn't all chemistry. It's bureaucracy, marketing and economics too.

VOC is the result of a regulatory test for something that is loosely defined, coming from efforts to control smog in Los Angeles in the 1970's. The test measures one thing, the speed of volatility, also called "off-gassing," not what it is off gassing. Every chemical element has a point where it will turn into a gas. From an indoor air quality perspective, it could be better that something off-gasses, because it goes away. (From the sustainability point of view, I remind you, there is no "away.")

VOC may be an easier way to regulate, but it may not measure the "bad" material in the product. A manufactuer could formulate a product that beats the test, even if it has undesirable elements.

People, not to mention regulating bodies, look for easier definitions. But, not all new, synthetic and volatile things are bad, just as not all natural things are good for you. For example, wild mushrooms could A. Pair well with grass fed beef and a strong cabernet b. Give you a new level of appreciation for tie-dye c. Kill you.

We probably need some change in regulations, but intelligence and common sense too. A good secondary test is: What does it smell like to you? You probably realize that certain pens or nail polish remover make you dizzy. If it's low VOC and makes you feel sick when you open the can, it may not be the best choice. Something could be low VOC and awful for you. There is conversion varnish that qualifies as low-VOC and thus could be referred to as "green". If you trust your instincts and sense of smell, you would not use the stuff.

This is not intended to scare you. I aim to encourage you to continue asking questions, or as interior designer Lori Dennis says, "get the story behind the story".

Don't fall for the fat-free label on the licorice package.

You want to feel good about your home and feel you are making well-informed choices. Look for companies that work to do less harm and improve the environment, across the board, not just carry one "green" line, and can explain each shade of green they offer and why. Take a look at milk or clay paints. We need to look at the whole picture, not just one test. it's a complicated problem to communicate to the marketplace.

Be interested. Things will become clearer and they will change.