NEW Guide for HOAs and Artificial Grass Published By ASGi

ASGi’s recently published HOA Guideline for Artificial Grass and Synthetic Turf is a full-color downloadable PDF – This 6 page guideline is full of photos and illustrations with a focus upon How HOA Guidelines Maintain Property Value & Popular Artificial Grass Products and Up-to-date CalGreen/LEED Permeable Installation guidelines.

ASGi built this general information PDF to answer your basic questions about artificial grass and synthetic turf used for lawns, putting greens and other residential projects. HOAs and other community interest properties will often apply design guidelines, to insure that their collective standards of building excellence and product quality are met or exceeded – the ASGi Artificial Grass HOA Guide was published in collaboration with several California HOA communities and any HOA or CIP is welcome to use the guide and adopt it for their own use. Please call [888-705-8880] or email us to ask us how – [admin @ asgi.us].

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ASGi June 19, 2010 AB.1793, Bans of Turf, Calif State, Calif Water, HOAs, Legislation, Water Savings AB.1793, Artificial Grass, artificial turf, Artificial Turf Market, california, GREEN, hoa, synthetic grass, synthetic turf, Synthetic Turf Council, Water Savings No Comments

City of Fountain Valley Installs Artificial Grass Lawn – Sets New Watermark in Water Efficiency

Industry market partners sponsor job materials to insure project has latest solutions.

Hosted by the Municipal Water District of Orange County and the City of Fountain Valley, CA – ASGi CERTiFiED Class attendees installed 450 + square feet of artificial lawn grass in this suburban neighborhood on Currant Ave off Brookhurst (across from Mile Wide Park).

This ISLAND MEDIAN is an ideal location to use artificial grass for a lawn-like installation. Special care was taken, under the guidance of two arborists on staff at the City of Fountain Valley, to prepare the area and provide a wide tree ring, irrigation and mulch under the established, mature tree; featured in the center of the enclosed area, located at the bend in the street. This median’s maintenance and repair costs have just been dramatically decreased while taking a pretty island and making it even more beautiful for the enjoyment of all.

The MWDOC currently offers both residential and commercial water rebate programs when installing artificial grass and synthetic turf.

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

ASGi CERTiFiED – May 2010 Landscape Project Pix

Professional Quality Landscape Grass
on an island median located on
Currant Ave & Brookhurst in Fountain Valley, CA.

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

Thank you to our job materials, tools and equipment sponsors

Artificial grass surface materials:

INFILL

Fairmount Minerals – Flexsand(TM) Infill
SuperFiLL - Resin Coated Acrylic Infill

SEAMING

TurfBond – Seaming solutions (seaming tapes, adhesives for artificial grass)

SHIPMENT & Local Delivery

Spectrum Building Supply – pick up and delivery of pallets and rolls of materials

FABRICS, ROOT & WEED ABATEMENT
BASE MATERIALS, TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

Groom Industries – Grandi Rake and Handi Grandi Tools, Odor Control
HOGLUND – BioBarrier: soil stabilization, root control, weed abatement
HDTurf – sponsored base, tools, equipment and decorative rocks for Currant Ave
Landscape West - tools, equipment, materials
TerraFirma Landscape Management - Excavation, tools and equipment
City of Fountain Valley and Municipal Water District of Orange County: Excavation, site prep, modifications and job materials.

ASGi May 26, 2010 Artificial Grass, Artificial Lawn Grass, Bans of Turf, Water Savings, WaterSense - EPA Artificial Grass, Artificial Grass Association, california, city bans of, City Use, median No Comments

California Bill May VOID HOA
Bans on Artificial Grass

Calif Assembly Bill 1793 –
introduced Feb 10, 2010 –
May Help Expand Market in California

Set Example for Other States

Promotes Water-Use Efficiency & Artificial Grass Turf Use

California has set the TREND for many milestones in the artificial

grass industry – if you do business in California or support those
who do business here – please step up to the plate on the following:

Assembly Bill 1793 has been introduced to the Calif Legislature by Assembly Member Lori Saldana and we can use your support in helping this important bill pass through the process

“This bill would provide that a provision of any of the governing documents of a common interest development would be void and unenforceable if it prohibits, or includes conditions that have the effect of prohibiting, the use of artificial turf or any other synthetic surface that resembles grass.”

We ask that you either send us an email and say that you’d like to add your Company and Contact name to our letter of support

OR you can use our letter as a template and write YOUR OWN

copy of letter here:
California’s Artificial Grass Bill Overturns HOA BANS on Use
http://www.asgi.us/ab.1793/AB1793_ASGi_Letter.pdf

Please email us – ASAP if you would like to add your contact information to OUR version of this letter – send your note to: A N N I E @ A S G I . U S

ALL ASGi members are strongly encouraged to participate and will get an additional request through your membership emails.
You only need to reply once …

Thank you, in advance, for your support of this IMPORTANT BILL!

All the best
Annie Costa
Exec Director
ASGi

Questions? – Give me a call at 530-432-5851

OR Contact the Honorable Lori Saldana’s office staff directly:

Erica Costa (no relation) erica.costa@asm.ca.gov

————
Annie Costa
Executive Director
ASGi

http://www.asgi.us

Toll-Free USA 888-705-8880
Direct: 530-432-5851
Cell: 530-237-7878
FAX: 530-432-5659

Join ASGi and Support Your Industry!
http://www.asgi.us/join

ASGi January 8, 2010 AB.1793, Calif State, HOAs, Legislation, Water Savings, lawsuits AB.1793, Artificial Grass, Artificial Grass Association, Artificial Grass Fields, artificial grass install guide, Artificial Grass Lawns, artificial turf, Market, synthetic grass, synthetic turf No Comments

Pasadena Re-Starts Artificial Turf Grass Rebate Program

PASADENA – Pasadena Water and Power is again offering customers rebates on water-saving appliances and equipment, after the program was put on hold this summer because record demand used up all the available funds, officials said.

“It was so popular … it ran out of funding, and we expect demand to be equally great this year. That’s why we want Pasadena customers to get in line early on,” PWP spokeswoman Nancy Long said of the program Metropolitan Water District is offering its member agencies, including the Pasadena utility.

The MWD has set aside $9 million for the current program, Long said, with PWP kicking in $223,000.

PWP gives its customers extra incentive to buy water-saving devices by supplementing several of MWD’s rebates exclusively for Pasadena customers, she said.

Pasadena provides the rebates through the residential “Water$ense” program.

Rebates are available on purchases of high-efficiency toilets, $30-$50; efficient clothes washers, $100; weather-based irrigation controllers, $150; rotating sprinkler nozzles, $5; and synthetic turf, 60 cents a square foot.

Synthetic turf is “low maintenance, evergreen … and saves many thousands of gallons that would otherwise go to watering one of the most water-thirsty of plants, grass,” Long said.

(more)

ASGi September 28, 2009 Calif State, Calif Water, Rebates, Water Savings, WaterSense - EPA No Comments

Artificial Grass Synthetic Turf Market
and California’s PROP 65

URGENT – IMPORTANT

* PROP 65 UPDATE! *

This judgment is specific to the following named defendants – however – it is a milestone agreement that the California AGs office intends to enforce, market wide with ALL partners in the chain of supply.

ANYONE Doing business in California ….

Download and READ this to better understand what standards, in California,under PROP 65, this first consent judgment sets and MUST BE MET (by these defendants) to avoid future legal action and liability!

This agreement has extended language that covers INFILL, ADHESIVES AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF ARTIFICIAL GRASS SYSTEM SOLUTIONS.

The AGs office anticipates an October hearing to finalize this language – 30 days after, it goes into effect.

PDF: PROP 65 – Consent Judgement – Filed August 14, 2009 ***

*** see below ( Settling Defendants for this Judgment (August 14, 2009) are Astroturf , LLC;Crystal Products Co. Inc, d/b/a SynLawn; UGTH Equipment, LLC; General sports Venue, LLC; and Synthetic Turf Resources, LLC )

ASGi – is ready to HELP YOU COMPLY * with new Standards for Artificial Grass & Synthetic Turf under PROP 65 & CPSIA/GCC!**

	Get-The-Lead-Out.Org *has been updated to properly reflect requested language on the site to comply with this Consent Judgment – Please go up and take a look! Resellers, Installers, Dealers, Distributors, ETC – should consider registering for either the “Lite” or “Small Biz” programs, Manufacturers – check out the UNLIMITED Plan!**

*** The consent judgement
of August 14, 2009 is specific to(Astroturf, LLC; Crystal Products Co. Inc, d/b/a SynLawn; UGTH Equipment, LLC; General sports Venue, LLC; and Synthetic Turf Resources, LLC (Settling defendants) *** HOWEVER *** we anticipate that the language set forth in the agreement, as it relates to lead (Pb) levels, warnings, et al, as spelled out in the Introduction and “Injuntive Relief” sections will be standard language in ALL upcoming settlements, affecting ALL market partners in the chain of supply.

ASGi August 17, 2009 ASTM, Grass Surface Info, Lead & Heavy Metals, Prop 65, Rebates, Water Savings Add new tag, Artificial Grass, Artificial Grass Suppliers, artificial turf, artificial turf information, Artificial Turf Market, proposition 65, synthetic turf, Synthetic Turf Council, Testing No Comments

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

NPR Radio Broadcast – Artificial Grass Use in Colorado

NPR – National Public Radio covers the adoption and use of artificial grass and synthetic turf in the state of Colorado – drought and extreme weather make fake lawns the ideal solution for residential and commercial landscape.

Listen to audio file re: artificial grass

ASGi May 11, 2009 Artificial Grass, City Use, Colorado, Drought, HOAs, Market, 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

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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)