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The Benefits of Natural Turf Compared to the Dangers of Synthetic Turf
Synthetic VS Natural TurfGetting to the Root of the Issue . . . There are several considerations to take into account when making the decision to install either synthetic or natural turf. These considerations are generally based on issues such as durability and appearance, as well as convenience. However, other issues that are much more complex should be considered when making this decision. These issues include environmental concerns as well as health and safety concerns for those utilizing the sports fields. The main environmental concerns center on carbon emissions, heat island effect, and water usage. Health and safety concerns center on injuries sustained from synthetic turf due to sanitary issues, intense heat, and turf rigidity.
Carbon emissions (CO2)from synthetic turf can range from +122,000 +/- 36,600 pounds of total greenhouse gasses over a period of 10 years when considering manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and recycling the material. Whereas the carbon emissions from natural turf can range from -37,600 +/- 6,700 pounds of carbon; meaning that natural turf actually removes CO2 from the air while taking into account the pollutants produced by mowers and the disposal of excess organic matter. Heat island effect is increased by synthetic fields because the average surface temperatures of synthetic fields can reach 117 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit, with maximum temperatures reported at 200 degrees Fahrenheit depending on the daily ambient temperature. To combat the intense temperatures synthetic field manufactures suggest heavily watering the fields with as much or more water than would be needed to support natural grass turf, therefore contradicting the water savings expected when installing synthetic turf.
Synthetic turf can also get very dirty from usage. Between periodic cleanings, the synthetic turf can collect mucus, blood, sweat, and even animal feces. On natural turf, these things are absorbed into the ground but on synthetic turf, they remain on the surface. Due to injuries such as cuts and abrasions sustained on synthetic turf, due to its rigidity and intense heat, pathogens can form on the surface making players more susceptible to staph infections and other ailments. There are also a great many concerns regarding the toxic chemicals on synthetic turf. The granules in the infill material used to ensure that the rubber remains pliable, decay from exposure to ultraviolet rays releasing carcinogenic chemicals. When athletes fall on the synthetic turf, they can then breathe this powder into their lungs. Other health concerns revolve around the fact that synthetic turf is not nearly as soft as natural turf and athletes are more likely to sustain serious injuries on synthetic turf than on natural turf. In a survey conducted by the National Football League Players Association 88.8 percent of players stated that they prefer playing on natural turf, with nearly 96 percent commenting that synthetic turf was more likely to contribute to injuries than natural turf; being especially hard on the back and knees.
Where are we currently . . . Currently neither synthetic turf nor natural turf is an ideal option when it comes to being good stewards to our environment. With the health, safety, and environmental concerns posed by synthetic fields and the watering and maintenance of natural turf required to keep it functional and looking good it is debatable which is the lesser of two evils. By utilizing SCI technology in the KISSS™ system these problems are greatly minimized if not eliminated. The SCI technology would allow you to have an environmentally friendly natural grass sporting turf that is 100% worry free and will remain lush and green even with wear and tear from usage, all while using 60-70% less water than a conventionally designed field and is available at a fraction of the cost of a synthetic field.
Savings . . . One of the hottest trends in the landscaping industry is replacing natural turf football fields with synthetic turf. The reasoning behind this is that they cannot keep the sporting fields green due to over-use and low maintenance budgets; SCI technology can compete very well in this aspect. The cost of a sports field to be installed with synthetic turf varies from about $800,000 to $1.5 million along with the maintenance budget required to maintain the synthetic turf. The KISSS™ system can be retrofitted into an existing sports field for about $45,000 while eliminating most of the maintenance issues involved in maintaining traditional natural turf and saving close to if not over a million dollars over a 10 year span!
Environmental and Health Concerns . . .Synthetic sports fields have numerous problems that are well documented. For one, they are not maintenance free as advertised. They require regular washing, sanitizing, and during the hotter months of the year, they must be irrigated to lower the temperature that can reach a blazing 200ºF. A natural turf sports field on the other hand will stay consistently near 78ºF With the green technology push, the KISSS™ system, using SCI technology, is the logical choice. One must also consider the fact that a grass sports field produces enough oxygen to support approximately 125 people per year while a synthetic field produces nothing but landfill matter after its lifespan of about 7 years, not to mention the 54 metric tons of greenhouse gasses it produces in that time. In the United States alone there are 700 to 800 synthetic fields installed per year. That is eliminating oxygen production for approximately 100,000 people per year. Not to mention the health and safety concerns associated with synthetic fields that cause aliments and injuries to the athletes that use these synthetic fields.
The Solution . . . Some of the current issues faced by natural turf sports fields that the KISSS™ system can address or eliminate include pesticide and fertilizer runoff and exposure; enormous water consumption; and unfavorable surface conditions. The issue of pesticide and fertilizer runoff and exposure center around the fact that these chemicals must be applied topically and then watered using a traditional sprinkler system. In order to assure that the sports fields are ready to be used and minimize the athletes exposure to these chemicals the groundskeepers must over water the fields. This then creates runoff of water that contains harmful chemicals into the sewers and eventually back into our water systems. Because the KISSS™ system uses the SCI technology all watering and fertilizing is done below ground using an EzFlow™ Fertigation tank connected to the system.
Many sports field owners are turning to synthetic turf because water consumption is a big issue today and because natural grass fields use an insurmountable amount of water. Nearly 40 percent of the water that is sprayed out of traditional sprinklers does not make it into the soil due to evaporation and overspray. With the KISSS™ system, these problems are eliminated. The reason being is that the system runs underground so there is no chance of overspray ever occurring. Because the water never reaches more than an inch to the surface you do not deal with evaporation problems either.
Surface conditions on most sports fields are a major concern to coaches and players. These conditions tend to vary depending on the soil type in the field. Soil based fields tend to be much more problematic than sand based fields. Soil based fields have issues related to compaction and are sensitive to the irrigation techniques employed. Traditional natural turf fields cannot be irrigated less than 24 hours before an event because the surface will be wet, which can cause injuries to athletes and severely damage the field and create a compacted surface, holes, and bare spots. With the KISSS™ system, you never need to worry about any of these issues. Because the system runs underground, water never penetrates the surface and remains one inch below the surface in the root structure. This makes for dry surface conditions even when the system is running. This also means that the system can run while the field is in use with no impact on the activities taking place. A significant benefit of this system is that because the surface remains dry weed germination is nearly eliminated. Another huge benefit of this system is that the surface is always dry so there is no chance of compaction; the ground is always soft and reduces the occurrence of injuries sustained on compacted or synthetic turf fields.
All contractors installing the KISSS™ system under SES must be certified through SES as a trained and licensed KISSS™ installation contractor working as a subcontractor to SES. For additional information on certification please contact our office at 800.376.7161 or email at www.kisssusa.com
Full Service SystemThe services provided for a complete renovation of a sports field include the following:
· Soil testing· Soil extraction and addition (depending on package selected)· Drainage system installation (depending on package selected)· Soil amendment applications· Tilling and bed preparations· Installation of Capillary Subsurface Irrigation System· Installation of soil moisture monitoring and ET irrigation control· Re-Sod the entire field with Bermuda Tiffway® or equivalent· Maintenance and care of the field for the next 10 years includingo Mowingo Fertilizationo Weed controlo Pest Control
Quality assurance will be maintained by a certified SES installation specialist who will oversee the entire installation, periodically checking in with the sports field manager, and overseeing all maintenance to be provided for the field, as well as making periodic site visits to ensure that the system is being maintained properly. Another measure that will be taken by SES will be to place lock-boxes on all of the systems as to prevent tampering with the flow rates of the system by those unfamiliar with the KISSS™ technology.
Want More…For a more substantial and detailed explanation of services and savings that we can offer with the KISSS™ system you can download the full report by following the link, or for additional information regarding contractor certification please feel free to contact our office at 800.376.7161 or email at Cheryl Lucas, Director of Sports Fields at cheryl@kisssusa.com