Green House Effect

The walls have cheers

By CHRISTINE LIU

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AURA PAINT BY BENJAMIN MOORE | $55/GALLON

Stinky, sticky, messy. Anyone who's painted a house can explain the thrilling process involved throughout. However, a lot of the brain- and environment-killing fumes are due to high levels of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) in the goop.

Although you can find no- to low-VOC paints from several manufacturers, I give props to behemoth paintmaker Benjamin Moore for its more eco-friendly Aura line. "It's very low in VOC," says Aarno Hatinen, manager at Yumont Hardware. "The higher the volative organic compounds, the more it releases things into the atmosphere; it's not good for the ozone layer." There's also Benjamin Moore's 100 percent acrylic low-odor-low-VOC Eco Spec line, but the Aura has the luxury of coming in at 3,300 colors.

Smell that? That's one hell of a rainbow.

[Available at Yumont True Value Hardware, 702 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. 617.524.4572. yumont.com]

Open House at the Carruth

Before there's any risk of misunderstanding, I'm not implying at all that everyone should go out and buy a trendy new condo—goodness knows that's the last thing on my rent-addled mind. However, housing developments that incorporate greenness both in philosophical mission and practical upkeep merit a looksee.

The Carruth, a completely LEED-certifiable mixed-use condo/retail/restaurant structure, plunks itself right across from the Ashmont train station. As the first TOD (Transit Oriented Development) project in the city, the building promotes public transportation with pedestrian-friendly physical integration with the MBTA station redesign. (Not getting mowed over while crossing the street from the T? Sounds awesome.) Other eco-conscious elements are scattered about like sustainable sprinkles—bamboo flooring, photovoltaic panels, energy-efficient appliances. Remarkably, the developers selected the Carruth's businesses for their socially conscious, fair trade or pro-environment practices.

There's a chance to check out the space this weekend, fortified accordingly by Italian panini from longtime Dorchester resident and chef/restauranteur Chris Douglass, organic brews from Flat Black Coffee Company and work from the Dorchester Artists Collaborative and the Red Dot Gallery. If you manage to stumble onto the red line this weekend, see it as a good chance to check out Dot Ave's newest neighbor.

[Sat 3.8–Sun 3.9. 1910 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester. 12pm-4pm both days/free. 617.593.0572]