The environment is important  to us, so we've made the conscious effort to sell low-VOC products when the quality and price are the same, or in many cases better, than the older paints. Our paint suppliers have developed many new and exciting products which are much more environmentally friendly than even 10 years ago. Products like C2 LoVo & Studio, PPG Manor Hall & Speedhide and Benjamin Moore Aura, ben and Regal Select are all top of their class low-VOC paints.

Our Color Town Private Selection Drywall Primer and Ceiling Paint is locally manufactured, reducing our overall carbon footprint. The same company makes our Color Town Recycled Latex Eggshell paint, keeping hundreds of gallons of unwanted paint from ending up in landfill. They take our old gallons of unusable paint, mix the paint together, and then recycle the old steel cans.

Our in-house recycling program was extremely successful with painters and homeowners looking for well-priced quality paint in a neutral color.

We continue to look for more ways to decrease our impact on the environment.


And what about the store itself?  It's a little thing, but we turn off every light in the store every night. Except for our server, we turn off every computer each night. Our computers all have Energy Star-rated LCD screens.
Three years ago we installed PeakSaver thermostats to turn down the heat when we are closed and to regulate the air conditioning during peak periods. And since we opened in 1995 we have used ceiling fans throughout the store to regulate the store temperatures.
We recently replaced our old 1999 van with a new fuel-efficient Ford Transit. The Transit fits our needs for a reliable paint delivery van which is at least 30% more fuel efficient than other cargo vans.

Ten years ago it was very difficult to find environmentally-friendly paints that were also high quality. The paint industry has changed dramatically since the end of the last century and now it is difficult to not find high quality "green" paints. Manufacturers such as Benjamin Moore, C2 and PPG lead the way with their premium selections of low-VOC, low-pollutant paints.

We are very happy to supply C2 low VOC paints. C2 LoVo and the new C2 Studio are made to the most stringent North American specifications, those in Southern California. LoVo is available in washable flat, eggshell, satin and semigloss finishes, as well as drywall primer, ceiling paint and 100% acrylic super adherent primer and Studio is available in flat, eggshell, satin and semigloss.

Since 1883, Benjamin Moore has made some of the best paints in the world. They continue this tradition with not just low-VOC products such as AURA, Regal Select and ben, but zero-VOC premium products like Natura and economical choices such as EcoSpec WB. Benjamin Moore also leads the way with low-VOC waterborne colorants, one of the first companies in the industry to go this route.

PPG is an industry leader, with one of the largest Research & Development divisions of any manufacturer. PPG has lowered the VOCs in its Speedhide commercial line to California standards and offers premium products such as Manor Hall Timeless Semigloss which outperforms every other product in this category. This year, PPG introduced a new formulation of Manor Hall exterior paints which, while lowering the VOCs, increased performance and durability.



WoodPlus is a Canadian manufacturer of 100% acrylic and modified alkyd deck and fence coatings which are ultra low VOC and high performance.

• When you paint with low or no-VOC paint you will reduce the amount of ground-level ozone released into the air, making your world a healthier place to live in. The quality level and performance of these new “green” paints is exceptional and there is a great variety of choice.

• Use products made from recycled materials such as rollers and recycled plastic trays. Invest in good quality tools like brushes and roller cages, they will perform better and last for many years. Taking care of your tools will save you money, reduce waste and make your work look like a pro did it! 

• Invest in durable, reusable canvas drop cloths. They lay flat as you walk across them, presenting less of a tripping hazard. Canvas also absorbs paint drips, unlike plastic which becomes slippery when spattered with wet paint. Most importantly they can be used over and over.

• When renovating or redecorating, donate your old cupboards, furniture and fixtures to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. All proceeds from the ReStore go to Habitat’s affordable housing building program in York Region. You will help the environment by keeping thousands of tons of usable materials out of landfills. It’s also a great place to shop for treasures! Contact Habitat for Humanity.

• Did you know that on old can of alkyd based paint is considered Household Hazardous Waste? Safe and responsible disposal of partially full paint cans or solvents like paint thinners should be taken to an HHW Depot for safe disposal. Throwing these items in the garbage or putting them down the drain is dangerous for your family and our environment. Empty or dry paint cans may be placed in your blue box with lids removed. For more info about hours and locations visit www.york.ca.

• Paint sampling is another way to go green. Our 16 oz samplers, in C2 LoVo and Benjamin Moore, and our large Ultimate Paint Chips make color selection easier, allowing for fewer mistakes and less waste.

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies intended to improve performance in areas such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources.

LEED is intended to provide building owners and operators a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

LEED awards points based upon a rating system which addresses eight major areas:

• Location and Planning
• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Innovation and Design Process
• Regional Priority

LEED has become increasingly adopted in all phases of commercial, industrial, institutional and residential development and construction. In addition, numerous building products and materials display LEED certification.  

Color Town currently carries many products which qualify for LEED credits including:

• C2 LoVo
• PPG Block Filler and Fill & Finish; dryfog;
• PPG Speedhide Flat, Eggshell & Semigloss and Fire Retardant
• PPG Manor Hall Eggshell, Pearl and Timeless Semigloss
• Benjamin Moore Aura, Natura, Regal Select, Advance, and ben  

When people talk about “green paint,” they’re not talking khaki or olive or forest – they’re talking about the new environmentally conscious coatings that are sweeping the market.

Back as far as 1994, we heard about new government regulations and the disappearance of oil-based (or alkyd) paints. Finally last September, the Canadian government mandated the end of most alkyd paints which wasn't feasible until recently.

The poor quality of green products was the main reason – you had to sacrifice performance to have an environmentally-friendly product. But now, paint manufacturers are investing millions to research the best water-based coatings and have made great strides in research and development. This has led to products which not only cover better than traditional alkyd paint, but also brush and roll smoothly and are more durable; these were all issues with older technology water-based paints. Products such as C2 LoVo, a low VOC, high performance coating and Benjamin Moore AURA lead the way in quality.

You may ask why government cares about alkyd paint. The major reason is Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are the main cause of smog and poor indoor air quality in North America. VOCs come from many sources, including gasoline, paint, hairspray, air fresheners and disinfectants – even dry-cleaned clothing. A report from the US government shows that levels of organic pollutants inside houses are two to five times higher than outside, and this can increase to 1,000 times worse when painting. Alkyd paint is a prime contributor to this indoor pollution, with VOC levels being up to eight times higher than in a comparable water-based product.

 

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