More homeowners installing fake grass
Story By: Bea Karnes
Source: NBC
Most people wouldn't think of artificial grass making an attractive addition to their property. But in Southern California where the water supply is diminishing, artificial grass looks beautiful and can, in some ways, help the environment.
Artificial grass is common on athletic fields. Students at Claremont High School in Southern California play on it. The fake grass can cause rug burn, but it reduces other sports-related injuries. Rick Dutton of Claremont High School said, "It doesn't have the typical soft spots and gullies and bumps than can cause a turned ankle."
Now, more homeowners are making the switch. Homeowner Kathleen Staffacher said, "I think our neighbors are all envious, because they see what a beautiful lawn we have." The change cut Kathleen and Bob Stauffacher's water bill in half.
The grass is nothing like the old brillo-pad feel of the past. Today, there are dozens of colors and textures. Troy Keisiel spent $10,000 for his yard. The average cost is about $8.00 a square foot compared to about $2.00 for sod. In Troy's case, he weighed installing a new sprinkler system versus grass that never needs water. Kisiel said, "Within one year, we're actually making money by not having a real lawn."
Artificial lawns last 15-to-20 years. Mike Carpenter of Artificial Grass of Southern California said, "You don't have to do much, other than a leaf blower, maybe a broom here and there to get some of the debris off."
But, something to consider, "Turf is still plastic...so it will get hotter in the summertime under extreme heat," said Carpenter.
These styles are made with soy-based plastics, which can be recycled. Recycled tires are ground up and sprinkled over the grass to provide cushioning and help the blades stand up.
Manufacturing the plastic lawn has an environmental downside. A Canadian school that installed 90,000 square feet of synthetic fields determined the school would have to plant 1,861 trees over a ten year period to offset the carbon footprint.
While there's a lot to weigh, the next generation of the Stauffaker family is already sold. "They ran to their mother and said, 'look, we don't have grass stains all over our pants,' so they love playing on this grass," Staffacher said.
Some municipalities offer rebates for people who install artificial grass, so you should check with your government.
