MWD – Efforts | Artificial Grass & Synthetic Lawn Industry INFO

Building Green Includes Artificial Grass Turf

Building Green in California Entering New Era

As the trend toward Building Green gains momentum, California – with its eye on harmful carbon dioxide emissions as well as recurring drought conditions and other environmental woes – remains ahead of the curve in encouraging businesses and individuals to reduce overall energy usage, which is a common measurement of green building. The state’s Green Building Regulations that go into effect on July 1 require a gradual 15% reduction in overall energy use, the equivalent of achieving the LEED® silver rating for new construction for the entire state. Construction and landscaping alternatives that are as varied as Energy Star-certified home appliances, elevators that move only when passengers are present, and artificial grass for water-saving landscaping are all part of the building green movement in California. Before California adopted its Green Building Regulations, the standard for green and sustainable buildings in California and nationwide was and still is set by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit organization. The California Sustainability Alliance says the state’s Green Building Regulations are the most aggressive energy and environmental goals in the nation. “The good news,” the Alliance says, “is that many different types of resources and support are now available to help us achieve these ambitious goals.” Developers have gradually taken advantage of those “resources and support” to erect more green projects The first systematic study of the green building market in California – by the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate at the University of San Diego as reported by the online edition of the San Diego Tribune – found that a growing number of developers are putting up buildings meeting stringent environmental standards, and that tenants have been willing to pay top dollar to rent space in them. A study for the American Solar Energy Society determined that under an “aggressive deployment forecast scenario” more t …

less than 2 day(s) – Tuesday May,12 2009 @ 08:57 AM
More on Buildinggreentv.com

ASGi May 13, 2009 Artificial Grass, Artificial Turf Yarn Fibers, GREEN, Grass Surface Info, GreenScapes-EPA, GreenValleyInitative, HOAs, Health & Environment, Heat, MWD - Efforts, Water Savings, WaterSense - EPA Artificial Grass, Artificial Grass Association, artificial grass turf, artificial turf, Artificial Turf Georgia, Artificial Turf Market, GREEN, green building, hazards, synthetic grass, synthetic turf, Testing, united states, Water Savings, water use, watersense, waterwise No Comments

Artificial Turf Grass Displays Water Savings in SoCal Garden

With California in the third year of a drought, the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency in Beaumont is trying to demonstrate that it is possible to have a lovely garden without using a lot of water.
The agency, headquartered on Beaumont Avenue, is replacing its front lawn with landscaping that is much more water efficient.

The 5,000-square-foot space will consist of rocks, a little bit of artificial turf, plants and decomposed granite. Work could be completed by the end of this week.

The agency, a wholesale water retailer, is spending $31,000 on the project. Tom Lara Landscaping in Cherry Valley is doing the work.

Board member Ted Haring said the agency is trying to show people they can have “nice-looking landscaping without a lot of grass.”

Grass lawns require a significant amount of water. In the Pass area, nearly two-thirds of the water used by individual homes is for landscaping and other outdoor uses, according to the agency, which encourages water conservation.

The agency is replacing its sprinklers with a “smart” irrigation system that will water the plants only when needed.

“It literally measures the moisture in the ground,” said Haring, a water conservation consultant.

The agency is having Lara plant greenery that mostly is native to the area, which means the plants won’t require a lot of water to thrive. The plant list includes rosemary, chaparral sage, autumn sage and blue fescue.

It will be a colorful landscape when in bloom.

Decomposed granite is a paving material used in walkways and driveways. Haring said it has an attractive yellow-beige tint.

Once completed, the landscape will resemble a dry river bed, said agency General Manager Jeff Davis.

Reach Erin Waldner at 951-763-3473 or ewaldner@PE.com

10:00 PM PDT on Monday, May 11, 2009

Original story by ERIN WALDNER
The Press-Enterprise

ASGi May 13, 2009 Artificial Grass, Calif State, DWR-Calif, Drought, MWD - Efforts, Rebates, Water Savings Artificial Grass, artificial turf, california, Drought, synthetic grass, synthetic turf, Water Savings No Comments

Calif: Water Districts Face Stiff Fines If Allocations Exceeded

Metropolitan Water District officials say districts that exceed their allocations will face stiff fines.

Goal of new water garden display in Eastern Water District is to persuade customers to use native vegetation and other water saving options – yet new
lottery-style rebate allotments are hampering customers efforts to receive relief from adoption of water-savings products.

REGION: Eastern Municipal Water District to open demonstration gardens

(Photo by Don Boomer - Californian staff writer)

Goal is to persuade customers to use native vegetation and water saving options for landscape to increase water savings and meet the goal of 20% reduction by 2020 called for by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and supported by the Calif Dept of Water Resources and Metropolitan Water District.

By JEFF ROWE -
Thursday, May 7, 2009 8:49 PM PDT

Roxanne Rountree with Eastern Municipal Water District points out the native California plants, rocks, wood chips and artificial turf that makes up the district’s demonstration garden that will be open to the public Saturday. (Photo by Don Boomer – staff writer)
These agave plants are among the native California plants displayed in the demonstration garden. (Photo by Don Boomer – staff writer)

PERRIS —- In recent months, as the threat of water cutbacks has become a reality, people have been told over and over to consider replacing ever-thirsty grass lawns with water-sipping native vegetation.

So what to plant?

On Saturday, the Eastern Municipal Water District will offer plenty of suggestions when it opens its Water Wise Demonstration Garden with exhibits, vendor booths, experts and cartoon characters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In all, Eastern replanted 57 acres at its big complex in Perris, using California-friendly ground cover such as Indian hawthorn and bush lantana; shrubs such as society garlic and agave; and trees such as lemon-scented gum.

Some crushed rock and three grades of synthetic turf also has been added, some replacing nine acres of real grass.

That live grass and the other non-native bushes and trees drank way too much water for the new water-wise era.

The district was using 10.6 million gallons of water annually on the lawns and gardens, but with the native vegetation plantings, that water usage has been reduced to an annual rate of 1.3 million gallons.

All of that water is recycled, some of it from Eastern’s storage pond on the north side of the district’s complex.

“We hope this garden can serve as a model,” said Roxanne Rountree, who is coordinating Saturday’s demonstration program.

Exhibits will include water- and energy-efficiency devices and native plants.

Vendors and experts on composting, landscaping, irrigation and green energy will set up and staff booths at the event.

As are other water districts, Eastern is under pressure to reduce deliveries of water from the Metropolitan Water District, Southern Californian’s primary water supplier.

Environmental restrictions are reducing by 10 percent the amount of water from Northern California that is available for pumping to Southern California.

Metropolitan officials say districts that exceed their allocations will face stiff fines.

For example, if Eastern goes over its water delivery allocation by 500 acre-feet, that water will cost $1 million, four times the normal cost, although “normal” is rising.

Eastern said its cost will go up by 20 percent on Sept. 1 and 21 percent on Jan. 1, 2011.

How those increases will be passed on to customers hasn’t yet been determined.

Eastern buys about 80 percent of its water from Metropolitan; the rest it acquires from area wells.

Eastern and other districts hope to persuade consumers to cut usage through a combination of conservation and price incentives based on new tiered rates, and by example and persuasion through its demonstration garden.

“Almost 80 percent of our customers are staying within tier 1 and 2,” said Peter Odencrans, an Eastern spokesman.

The utility wants to teach the next generation that reducing water use is a necessity and that conservation is the new normal.

Eastern provides water for parts of Murrieta and Menifee and Perris, Hemet, Moreno Valley and San Jacinto.

On Saturday, special guests Dewie the Dragon and Princess Zoie will show children how they can reduce water usage and how water is recycled.

Captain Lo-Watt will demonstrate how fluorescent light bulbs use less electricity than incandescent bulbs.

The demonstration garden is at 2270 Trumble Road in Perris, just east of Interstate 215 and north of Highway 74.

For information, call (951) 928-3777, Ext. 4226.

Contact staff writer Jeff Rowe at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2621, or jrowe@californian.com.

Eastern Municipal Water District

The water district will open its Water Wise Demonstration Garden

– What: Exhibits, vendors, experts and, for children, Dewie the Dragon, Princess Zoie and Captain Lo-Watt

– When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

– Where: 2270 Trumble Road, Perris 92570

– Information: www.emwd.org; (951) 928-3777, Ext. 4226.

California Bill Supports Artificial Grass and Synthetic Turf

Efforts to promote water savings to encourage Californians to help achieve California Dept of Water Resources and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 20 x 2020 plan are finding ways to provide fantastic incentives for this drought-riddled state’s citizens.

California Assembly Bill 474 – sponsored by Metropolitan Water District and proposed by freshman Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield is just one of many.

Basic language of great interest to synthetic turf and artificial grass industry:

5) States that it is the intent of the Legislature that the
authorization created by this bill should be used to finance
the installation of water efficiency improvements that are
permanently fixed to residential, commercial, industrial,
agricultural, or other real property, including,
but not limited to, recycled water connections, synthetic turf,
cisterns for stormwater recovery, and water-porous concrete.

Update on Calif AB.474

CURRENT BILL STATUS

The Assembly Bill 474′s language – proposed by Assemblymember
Blumenfield has been amended in minor ways to reflect that the bill would
not be requiring that construction is limited to “new” building projects.MEASURE : A.B. No. 474
AUTHOR(S) : Blumenfield.
TOPIC : Contractual assessments: water efficiency improvements.
HOUSE LOCATION : ASM
+LAST AMENDED DATE : 04/27/2009

Assembly Local Government – 04/22/09

Motion: Do pass as amended.
Ayes: 5, Noes: 0, Abstentions: 2

TYPE OF BILL :
Active
Urgency
Non-Appropriations
2/3 Vote Required
Non-State-Mandated Local Program
Non-Fiscal
Non-Tax Levy

LAST HIST. ACT. DATE: 04/28/2009
LAST HIST. ACTION : Read second time. To third reading.
FILE : ASM THIRD READING
FILE DATE : 05/07/2009
ITEM : 61

COMM. LOCATION : ASM LOCAL GOVERNMENT
COMM. ACTION DATE : 04/22/2009
COMM. ACTION : Do pass as amended.
COMM. VOTE SUMMARY : Ayes: 05 Noes: 00 PASS

TITLE : An act to amend Sections 5898.12, 5898.14, 5898.20,
5898.21, 5898.22, 5898.24, 5898.28, and 5898.30 of the
Streets and Highways Code, relating to contractual
assessments, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take
effect immediately.

————————————————————————————–

Metropolitan Water District – cosponsored AB.474

“If you have any questions or wish additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Thank you for your consideration.”

Kathleen Cole
MWD Sacramento Office

Rosario Kapeller
California Municipal Utilities Association

===========================================================

Sample Letter to Send In as an Example of Your Support:

( You are welcome to make changes to the following or create your own letter! )

Please copy and paste onto your own letter head and send to the following*
in show of support of this very important piece of legislation!

============================================================

RE: AB 474 (Blumenfield): – SUPPORT

Contractual Assessments: Water conservation and Efficiency Improvements

Dear Assembly Member Blumenfield:

The ________________ supports your AB 474, which would reduce water use throughout California by allowing for a voluntary financing program between public entities and property owners. AB 474 is dramatic new tool for water policy in California by how it encourages and facilitates the installation of fixed and permanent water efficiency improvements on private property.

The timing of AB 474 could not be better. Extremely limited water supply availability is forcing California and its residents to re-examine water use options that can result in greater efficiency. By establishing conservation practices today through sound water efficiency, we not only maximize currently available water, but will also ensure that future supplies will be available to meet demands.

AB 474 will provide an optional authority to public entities to finance water use efficiency. AB 474 will allow the opportunity for public entities to provide initial funding for the installation of water use efficiency projects on the property of willing property owners . AB 474 allows for the use of advanced, large-scale technologies and products that are effective, but would otherwise be unobtainable for many homeowners and businesses due to the sizeable upfront financial cost. Under AB 474, willing property owners will be required to repay the public entity over an extended period of time, while the property owner and local jurisdiction experience marked water savings.

This financing tool is not new. AB 474 is an extension of existing law, as established by AB 811 (Levine, 2008). However, as AB 811 was drafted, the financing mechanism was only limited to solar improvements. Reducing water use is as important to California as reducing energy consumption.

Water districts throughout California are expected to raise rates because of the higher costs of obtaining supplies and because of newer, more expensive forms of treatment. Property owners could benefit from new choices that would allow them to lower their water bills by lowering their water use over the long term. Your AB 474 is both timely and responsive to the need to encourage conservation.

If you should have any questions or concerns regarding our position on AB 474, please feel free to contact me at your convenience at ____Phone and Email is best_________.

Sincerely,

Your signature and name, title

====================================================================

* PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO THE ATTENTION OF:

Kathleen Cole, Legislative Representative
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
1121 “L” Street, Suite 900
Sacramento, CA 95814
916/650-2642 (Office)
916/650-2615 (Fax)

The Honorable Robert Blumenfield
California State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 6011
Sacramento, CA 95814
916/319-2040 (Office)
916/319-2140 (Fax)

ASGi May 7, 2009 AB.474, Calif Water, DWR-Calif, Drought, Legislation, MWD - Efforts, Rebates, Water Savings AB 474, Artificial Grass, Artificial Grass rebates, artificial turf, california, metropolitan water district, synthetic grass, synthetic turf, Synthetic Turf Rebates, Water Savings No Comments

Lowe’s & LA County Give So Calif REBATE to Antelope Valley Property Owners

Rebates: Incentive to reduce water use

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Friday, March 27, 2009.

By ALISHA SEMCHUCK
Valley Press Staff Writer

LANCASTER – Los Angeles County Waterworks District 40 wants Antelope Valley residents and business owners alike to conserve water, so county officials launched a rebate program for people who purchase and install water-saving devices.

The rebate program is a collaboration between Waterworks District 40 and Lowe’s Home Improvement meant to encourage people to reduce their water use.

Rebates are $4 each for rotating sprinkler nozzles, 30 cents per square foot for synthetic turf and $50 to $150 for water-saving devices such as “smart” weather-based sprinkler controllers, high-efficiency clothes washers, high-efficiency toilets, and waterless urinals for businesses.

“We’re trying to provide incentives,” said Melinda Barrett, Waterworks Districts water conservation program manager.

“We’re hoping (to do this) by making it easier to find the products and get a rebate.”

County officials highlighted merits of the rebate program during a news conference Thursday in the garden department at Lowe’s. They were joined by the store manager, a local landscaper and students from Antelope Valley High School’s FFA.

For rebate application forms, people can go online to lacwaterworks.org or call (626) 300-4683.

The Waterworks district provides water to 170,000 people in the Antelope Valley, and the government agency wants to ensure that supplies can meet the demand, now and in the future, Barrett said.

Despite recent rains and some winter snow, Barrett said water supplies are still so low that the situation prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency.

In 2008, Antelope Valley residents saved 13% compared to their use the prior year, Barrett said. The goal is to have everyone use 20% less water by the year 2020.

“Summer will soon be here, when we have our highest water usage,” said Norm Hickling, field deputy for Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

Glenn Guenther, a Valley resident who runs a landscaping business, said because of the work he does, he realized the need to conserve water.

“This rebate program will bring attention to the issue,” Guenther said.

“The water district rebate program is appealing to my customers,” Guenther said. Not only do they save water, but they save money on their monthly bills, he said.

“Our customers are looking for ways to save money every day,” said Daniel Goff, store manager at the Lancaster Lowe’s.

Aside from receiving a rebate for purchasing a water-saving device, Goff said, program participants will “cut home utility costs for years to come.”

“Over the course of your lifetime, you will flush the toilet nearly 140,000 times,” Goff said.

Because the greatest percentage of water consumption occurs outdoors, Goff advised people to grow only drought-tolerant, native plants in their yards.

This spring members of the FFA at Antelope Valley High School will plant a drought-tolerant tree on campus to honor Antonovich, said Nicole McMurray, 17, a senior and the president of the FFA campus chapter. She also presented Hickling with a plaque for Antonovich, thanking the supervisor for his “dedication to ensuring the Antelope Valley has a reliable water source for the future.”

“As part of our horticulture curriculum, we provided the water system for our fields,” McMurray said. “It helps make sure our school is not wasting water.”

With water being so crucial to the agriculture industry, McMurray said conservation is a critical factor that ensures she “will have a future in agriculture.”

“With us all working together,” Goff said, “we can reduce water waste.”

Los Angeles County had received a state grant that would have paid $1 per square foot for taking turf and replacing it with water-saving ground cover, but the funds were frozen because of the state budget crisis.

The lawn-removal rebate “won’t start until we get the funds,” Barrett said.

http://www.avpress.com/n/27/0327_s4.hts

ASGi March 29, 2009 Calif Water, MWD - Efforts, Rebates, Water Savings No Comments

WATER: Bill would let agencies trump homeowners association rules

Measure could void HOA moves to limit drought-tolerant landscaping

Two of California’s most powerful forces —- water agencies and the property rights of homeowners’ associations —- may be on a collision course.
Southern California’s giant water wholesaler, Metropolitan Water District, is sponsoring state legislation to make ordinances from local water districts trump homeowner association rules.

Introduced Feb. 27 by Assemblyman Ted Lieu, a Democrat from Torrance, the legislation is known as AB 1061. No date has been set for a committee hearing.

Metropolitan says the bill clarifies how homeowners can install water-efficient landscaping without running afoul of association rules. With California in a drought and rationing under way or looming in many districts, the agency is looking for any way to stretch out its supplies.

But homeowners association representatives say the bill is unnecessary and a waste of time.

The bill concerns landscaping restrictions on so-called “common interest developments,” such as Shadowridge in Vista. These developments contain single-family homes governed by condo-like regulations. Nearly 25 percent of the state’s population live in such developments, Lieu said when introducing the bill.

There have been isolated instances of conflicts between homeowners eager to save water and associations that outlawed particular types of water-efficient landscaping.

Associations fear that if homeowners are allowed to violate such standards, the aesthetic appeal of their neighborhoods will decline, and property values with them.

Last year, a Shadowridge couple, Judy and Richard Bieksha, came into conflict with their homeowners’ association when they installed low water-use landscaping without first seeking approval. The dispute is still unresolved, said Norm Halus, a Shadowridge board member.

Halus installed low-water-use landscaping for his own home about 15 years ago. Halus says the difference between him and the Biekshas is that he consulted association architectural guidelines and sought approval before installing his landscaping.

“Any HOA worth its salt is keenly aware of the looming water shortage and is discussing ways to help reduce water usage,” said Linda Ralphs Kaeser, a member of the 4S Ranch homeowners association.

Consistency sought
AB 1061 would enforce a model conservation ordinance that state officials plan to complete next year. Local water districts would be able to use the model ordinance as a blueprint for their own conservation rules.

As long as the water districts obey the model ordinance guidelines, the bill specifies, anything in the rules of a common interest development that conflicts with district regulations or restrictions would be “void and unenforceable.”

“We feel it’s really important to have a consistent way of dealing with outdoor water-use efficiency,” said Steve Arakawa, manager of water resource management for Metropolitan Water District.

Metropolitan supplies most of the water used in Southern California, including San Diego and Riverside counties. The agency is pushing outdoor conservation as the best way to save water.

An estimated 60 percent of water used by homeowners is applied outdoors, Arakawa said.

Homeowners associations say the bill doesn’t advance the goal of conservation and could be counterproductive.

Critics see no need
The bill is just “feel-good” legislation, said Jim Fraker, vice president of the San Diego division of Professional Community Management. The company works with homeowners associations representing about 10,000 homes in San Diego County, including Shadowridge, he said.

“It’s kind of comical,” Fraker said. “It’s trying to micro-manage in Sacramento something that does not need to be micro-managed.”

Fraker said existing law already forbids architectural guidelines from restricting the use of low-water plants, so there’s no need to restate the prohibition.

Kaeser, of the 4S Ranch board, said she is concerned the bill’s language is overly broad.

The language could be interpreted to mean any homeowner “could pave over his entire front yard and park cars there with impunity, cover his entire front yard with pink gravel, plant any size cactus he fancied, stop watering everything and leave a dead front yard, etc,” Kaeser said.

Patrick Catalano, an attorney whose firm represents homeowners associations throughout the state, said the bill means little. Associations already allow drought-tolerant landscaping, as long as it doesn’t clash with the community’s character.

“Most homeowners’ associations would be happy (to accept drought-tolerant landscaping), as long as somebody doesn’t want a desert scene with a bunch of rocks where everybody else has lawns,” Catalano said.

However, Catalano said, the question of whether artificial grass would be compatible with lawn-oriented guidelines is a “wild card,” and whether the bill would mandate its acceptance is unclear.

Contact staff writer Bradley J. Fikes at (760) 739-6641 or bfikes@nctimes.com. Read his blogs at bizblogs.nctimes.com

This post:

http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2009/03/10/business/z49c4485bcb5277ed882575740056faf1.txt