B-Origin4l

Artificial grass is quickly replacing natural grass at playgrounds, parks and day care centers. Find out why so many people prefer fake grass over natural lawns.

Whether you’re a landscape architect, parks and recreation executive or child care center director, it is important that you select a high-quality playground surface that is safe, durable and aesthetically pleasing for your playground. This is why many people are investing in specially designed fake grass for playgrounds. Here are just some of the benefits of installing fake grass at playgrounds, parks and day care centers.

Safe foundation: According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 60 percent of playground injuries are the result of falls to the ground. However, synthetic grass designed for playgrounds are manufactured from soft and forgiving polyethylene featuring a 100 percent crumb rubber infill. This combination produces a protected surface that is safer than sod, wood chips and sand.

Maintenance-free: An artificial lawn for playgrounds is designed to be durable, meaning that the surface will withstand the effects of ultraviolet degradation, heat, foot traffic, water and airborne pollutants. You can also say goodbye to mowing, watering, weeding and other maintenance costs.

Disability-friendly:  By law, public facilities including parks and playgrounds must be accessible for people with motion challenges and other impairments. Artificial turf is designed to offer a smooth, consistent surface that is accessible by wheel chairs and walkers.

Visually appealing: One of the best features of artificial grass is that it is visually attractive, thereby enhancing the play value of the playground, park or day care center environment. Artificial grass looks and feels like natural grass, yet comes without the inconsistencies such as dead grass spots, lawn fungus, weeds and other common problems.

To learn more about the benefits of playground-friendly artificial grass and to purchase artificial grass wholesale, please visit ArtificialTurfSupply.com.

Artificial turf – you have probably seen it in sports stadiums, but is it a good alternative for your yard? Thanks to new developments by artificial turf manufacturers, synthetic lawns are becoming a popular alternative for homeowners around the country.

Why has artificial grass become so popular? There are six benefits to having artificial turf:

1. Artificial grass can save you thousands of dollars on your water bills.

After all, synthetic lawns do not need to be watered. For every hour you spend watering your grass, you are using hundreds of gallons of water. Think of all the money you could save by installing artificial turf!

2. Artificial grass does not need any maintenance.

Do you feel like you spend more time maintaining your yard than actually enjoying it? If you’re tired of mowing, fertilizing, and seeding, consider artificial grass. That way, you can stop working so hard on your yard, and spend more time having fun in it with your friends and family.

3. Artificial grass lasts longer than natural grass.

Synthetic lawns will not die from the scorching heat of the summer or from the frigid cold of the winter. Since artificial grass can handle the elements better, it lasts longer than natural grass.

4. Artificial turf is safer to run and play on.

Since artificial grass is much more flat than natural grass, you and your kids are not as likely to trip when you’re running on it. Plus, many artificial turf manufacturers will also install infill with your artificial grass. Infill is tiny pieces of either sand or rubber that cushion you when you’re running or playing.

5. Artificial turf can go in any area – large or small.

Synthetic lawns aren’t just for sprawling acres of land. Artificial turf manufacturers can install artificial grass anywhere you need it, whether you have a huge yard, or a tiny space.

6. Artificial turf will not be damaged by your pets.

Don’t worry – man’s best friend won’t destroy your synthetic lawn! If your pet does his business in the yard, that’s fine. All you’ll have to do is rinse off the area with a little bit of water, and your artificial grass will look as good as new!

The current breed of lithium ion batteries is providing an unprecedented amount of power for commercial and personal applications while being smaller and more portable than ever before. For example, a lithium ground power unit can be much more easily transported and handled by an airport ground crew because it is more than 40 percent lighter and 30 percent more compact than similar lead-acid batteries.

While the current technology in lithium batteries is already quite advanced from previous models, Discovery News reports that new breakthroughs on the horizon might make the current level of lithium power seem like the Dark Ages. According to the report, researchers at MIT have discovered that using carbon nanotubes for one of the battery’s electrodes allowed a lithium ion cell phone battery to significantly increase its longevity and amount of energy that can be stored.

Carbon nanotubes could mean that batteries will last up to 10 times longer than current lithium ion batteries do. This would have major ramifications for everything from cell phone batteries to the lithium twin pack starters used in transportation to start airplanes, boats and trains with turbine engines.

For some people, both individuals and organizations, choosing a synthetic lawn over a natural one can be a great opportunity to save money.  This is particularly true in areas where the climate isn’t necessarily suited to nurturing plant life, particularly in extensive landscaping.  These days, with the world economy still floundering, money is tighter than ever for many.  Any way to cut expenses is a good thing, even though it may require an initial investment.

In climates such as the Sierra, where residents face months and months of snowfall that can stretch into May, a shorter growing season makes lawns more difficult to maintain.  Likewise, the terrain can be a problem if it is too rocky or dry.  The time and money poured into irrigating and maintaining an extensive property in such a region makes lots of individuals and business consider the benefits offered by switching to an artificial lawn.  After all, spending less money and less time and still having a beautiful landscape that will make your neighbors green with envy is an enticing prospect.

Installing wholesale artificial turf isn’t the cheapest prospect, although the price is certainly reasonable at $7-$14 per square foot. However, when you take into consideration the fact that maintaining a natural lawn in an unforgiving environment can run as much as $200 to $500 per year, it’s clear that an artificial lawn will more than pay for itself in the long run. It’s no surprise that more and more homeowners are looking into artificial.

Since the early days of using artificial turf lawn on sports fields, one of the biggest concerns has been the safety of the players during the game.  The earliest AstroTurf was both slippery and hard, making it a less than ideal surface for games that involve sliding and hitting the ground.  When you’re playing a game such as football with an opposing team trying to knock you to the ground, the last thing you want is for the ground to hit back.

While advances in synthetic turf grass have brought the building material a long way from its early days, there are always improvements that can be made. That is why the company AstroTurf has teamed up with the University of Tennessee in order to build a new research center.  The ground was just broken for this project, officially called the Research Center for Safer Athletic Fields.

This facility, when completed, will be outdoors and feature sixty research fields.  Each of these fields will be covered with a different surface, which will then be studied with the intention of seeing if performance can be proved, both for the sake of enhanced gameplay and reducing injuries.

One of the hopes of studying how artificial turf can be improved is eliminating any risk that the surface may pose to kids. With more parks and schools replacing natural grass fields with artificial, ensuring that any falls won’t cause serious harm to boys and girls is paramount. Luckily, artificial turf is safer than ever.

With the help of the right artificial turf company, it is simple to design and install a putting green in your own backyard.

Whether you’re an avid golfer or seasoned professional, you may wish to bring the putting green to your own backyard. While designing a putting green may seem like a challenging landscaping project, it’s not. Here is a look at how you can experience a taste of golf-course living by creating a small golf-course hole in your own backyard.

With the right tools and materials, anyone can build their own synthetic grass putting green. Artificial Turf Supply offers custom putting greens, making it easy for you to design and build a putting green in almost any outdoor area. You will have the opportunity to speak with a professional and select the size and shape putting green that meets your needs. One your purchase your materials, you will also be guided on the tools and supplies you will need to start your project.

To build an artificial grass putting green in your own backyard, you will need to select a relatively flat location and prepare the ground for installation by rolling out the landscape fabric. The second step is to place the panels on the created terrain. Using a special cutting tool, you will need to cut the panels to the desired shape. Next, insert the fasteners in the outside ring of the panels. Using a rake, shovel or broom, you will need to spread the sand or packing material under the cut panel edge. Next, install the floating cups. You can finally spread the synthetic turfover the foundation you just created. Wrap the turf over the edge of the panels and secure with landscape spikes. When ready, you can drop the cups and flags into the appropriate holes. Once you have completed the final step, make sure to use a broom and brush away the dust and debris from the artificial lawn, and enjoy!

More and more arenas and stadiums are finding that a switch to artificial grass from natural turf is a great way to save money.  Because it is more durable than grass and doesn’t need to be watered or trimmed, maintenance requires less time and money.  What’s more, companies continue to make new advances in terms of the materials used, meaning improved playing surfaces for teams.

One of the latest stadiums to make the change to synthetic turf is the Florida Citrus Bowl in the city of Orlando.  The Orlando City Council recently had a vote to install an artificial playing surface in the stadium.  The city will most likely be negotiating a deal with the manufacturer AstroTurf.

The decision to make this change is most likely due to a nationally broadcast demonstration of how poorly the natural turf is currently fairing.  During the Champs Sports and Capital One bowls, the players could be seen slipping and sliding on dangerously loose sod. Unfortunately, right after the sod had been laid down, it was soaked by heavy rains, creating an unstable surface. Artificial turf is more durable; not only will it stand up to the rigors of the sport, the environment will have less of an effect on it.

In regards to instillation and artificial grass prices, the city has also set the budget for the project at $1.5 million. The hope is that the installation will be complete by September, meaning the Citrus Bowl will be ready for the fall season.

During the winter months a storm or cold spell might play havoc with a town’s electrical grid, forcing residents to rely on emergency generators to give them the power to provide warmth throughout the night. However, these generators can be dangerous. The editors at the Shakopee Valley News in Minnesota know about cold weather and recently published a few tips for using emergency generators safely during a power outage.

First, it’s important to never use something like a 30 kw diesel generator indoors, since it can create a risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s also important not to try and hook an emergency generator directly into the electrical wiring grid of your house; if you want emergency power for your entire house, pre-wire that with the help of an electrician ahead of time. Otherwise, it’s better to plug the electrical items you want to use (such as a freezer or television) directly into your 60 kw generator.  Finally, only use electrical outlets that are rated for the correct amount of power when hooking large appliances up to your generator.

Many standby generator installations have transfer switches, which regulate the directional flow of power. These set-ups are designed to switch the power source from the main grid to back-up generator in case of an emergency. Then, when power is restored to the grid, the power source can be transferred back to the main grid.

Some transfer switches are manual, meaning someone has to physically go and switch the power source from the main grid to the emergency diesel generators in order for the back-up power to start. As you can imagine, this can be very frustrating if it is located in a dark place and dangerous if this means a person needs to go outside during a storm or other weather situation.

A better option is to make sure that your generator has an automatic transfer switch. This will immediately switch the power from the main grid to emergency power in case of a power outage, and then back to the main grid once power is restored. Not only is this safe and easy for the homeowner, but it also eliminates potentially dangerous situations for utility workers.

If you are looking at emergency generators for personal use, the range of options available on the market can be overwhelming. A quick online search shows dozens of brands and models. Before you start comparison shopping, it’s important to understand your own power generation needs.
After all, there’s no point in spending thousands of dollars on a 1000 kw diesel generator to power your house. Here are some tips:

• Understand how much voltage you need. A light bulb only takes 60 watts, but something like internal air conditioning or a heat pump can take up to 30,000 watts to start and 15,000 to run.
• Are you willing to stagger your power usage? It might not be possible to have full power at your house or office on a single 40 kw generator, but you can power certain appliances while keeping others turned off.
• Do you need an inverter or a generator? Simple invertors plugged into a car’s cigarette lighter adapter can power up to 200 watts of appliances, without the fuel, noise or need for engine maintenance. But invertors will drain power from your car battery.