New Living, of Houston, has launched the country’s first training program to educate painters about workplace health, environmentally sensitive industry practices and long-term protection of indoor air quality for consumers. “Painting has been one of the most toxic and polluting sectors of the construction industry,” says Daniel Wurm, with the nonprofit GreenPainters Australia, which is partnering with New Living to green the industry. “Not only has it led to contamination of water after cleaning up and off-gassing into the atmosphere of poisonous and unhealthy chemicals, but it has also contributed to health issues.”

It all starts with consumer demand for the use of low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and heat-reflective coatings in homes and offices.

Find a local certified green painter at GreenPainters.us or email [email protected].