Keeping It Real
The truth behind artificial surfaces in Mt. Lebanon
Topics
1. Chemical composition of artificial turf
Possible Health Risks
The presence of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) present in the crumb rubber base. These can include:
Chart is only a small sample. Many more compounds are present.
2. What is the true cost?
Proponents tout the cost “advantages” of artificial turf—
but do so by omitting key expenditures.
Estimated Cost breakdown
“Because the cost differences between natural grass and synthetic sports turf are so great, it’s important that the people faced with making athletic field purchasing decisions have as much factual information available to them as possible.”1
1. Source: Texas Multi-Chem, http://www.texasmultichem.com/blog/natural-grass-vs-synthetic-turf-athletic-field-costs-part-1.html
Per hour use cost is higher with turf than natural grass. A 10-year cost analysis shows cost per participant to be $2.67 on grass and $3.08 on turf. At 20-years, $1.76 on grass and $2.58 on turf. 2
*** Irrigation is not necessary on artificial turf but water is used to cool down the surface in hot weather. So there would be some cost associated with water use during summer months.
Additional Costs (con’t)
Expanded playing time means extended hours.
That means installing new lights, a cost only partially alluded to in the original proposal. While private funds might be available for initial installation, the public would pay for all future maintenance including repairs.
Additional Costs
Upgrading the field itself makes little sense unless upgrading the entire facility and surroundings.
Additional Costs
As proposed there would be multiple fields in close proximity operating simultaneously.
Yet the public will have to pay for it.
Additional Costs
Yet the public will have to pay for it.
Estimated maintenance costs?
Source: A Guide to Synthetic And Natural Turfgrass for Sports fields, Second Edition SportsTurf Managers Association., 2008,http://www.stma.org/sites/stma/files/STMA_Bulletins/STMA_Synthetic_Guide_2nd_Edition.pdf
Other cost estimates
Source: A Guide to Synthetic And Natural Turfgrass for Sports fields. Second Edition SportsTurf Managers Association., 2008 http://www.stma.org/sites/stma/files/STMA_Bulletins/STMA_Synthetic_Guide_2nd_Edition.pdf
Special equipment needs
Equipment currently used for natural grass cannot be retrofitted or used on synthetic surface! Cost can hit $80,000 to over $100,000
Source: A Guide to Synthetic And Natural Turfgrass for Sports fields, Second Edition SportsTurf Managers Association, 2008, http://www.stma.org/sites/stma/files/STMA_Bulletins/STMA_Synthetic_Guide_2nd_Edition.pdf
Estimated equipment costs
Synthetic Turf Maintenance Equipment price ranges:
Boom Sprayer $1,000 to $35,000
Source: "A Sports Field Manager’s Perspective: Synthetic Turf Construction Considerations,�Maintenance Costs & Concerns," Amy J. Fouty, CSFM, MiSTMA Synthetic Turf Infill Seminar. Detroit, May 11, 2005
Warranty exclusions
Source: http://www.synturf.org/images/ATurf8YearWarranty-http___www.aturf.com_index.pdf
http://www.ultrabasesystems.com/assets/downloads/10_year_UBS_Warranty.pdf
3. Professionals’ Preferences
According to the 2010 NFL Players Association survey (conducted every two years):
Professionals’ Preferences con’t
-82.6% believe artificial turf is more likely to contribute to an injury
-90% believe playing on artificial turf is more likely to shorten their career
When asked “what do you attribute poor fields to?”, the majority answered “multiple use facility”
NFL players prefer a dedicated facility with natural surface.
Professionals’ Preferences (the “other” football)
Environmental Concerns
According to a study by the non-profit Athena Institute,
“…a medium growth coniferous tree, planted in an urban setting and allowed to grow for 10 years, sequesters 23.2 lbs of carbon, equivalent to 0.039 metric tonnes CO2 [12]. The tree planting offset requirements to achieve a 10-year carbon neutral synthetic turf installation is estimated to be 1861 trees (+-23%)”
Simply: 1 turfed field = 1800 trees planted within the municipality
Connecticut DEP Study
Source--Artificial Turf Study: Leachate and Stormwater Characteristics, 2010, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, 20 July 2012, http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/artificialturf/dep_artificial_turf_report.pdf
Stormwater Runoff
Available on Mt. Lebanon official website: http://www.mtlebanon.org/
Environmental Concerns con’t
Source: Williams, C. Frank, Pulley, Gilbert, E. Synthetic Surface Heat StudiesSource: Williams, C. Frank, Pulley, Gilbert, E. Synthetic Surface Heat Studies. 2002, Brigham Young University, http://cahe.nmsu.edu/programs/turf/documents/brigham-young-study.pdf.
What is a “heat island”?
“As urban areas develop, changes occur in their landscape. Buildings, roads, and other infrastructure replace open land and vegetation. Surfaces that were once permeable and moist become impermeable and dry.1 These changes cause urban regions to become warmer than their rural surroundings, forming an "island" of higher temperatures in the landscape
Heat islands occur on the surface and in the atmosphere. On a hot, sunny summer day, the sun can heat dry, exposed urban surfaces, such as roofs and pavement, to temperatures 50–90°F (27–50°C) hotter than the air,2 while shaded or moist surfaces—often in more rural surroundings—remain close to air temperatures. Surface urban heat islands are typically present day and night, but tend to be strongest during the day when the sun is shining.”
Source: What Is an Urban Heat Island?, 2012, Environmental Protection Agency, 20 July 2012, <http://www.epa.gov/heatislands/about/index.htm>
Effects of heat islands
Source: What Is an Urban Heat Island?, 2012, Environmental Protection Agency, 20 July 2012, http://www.epa.gov/heatislands/about/index.htm
Source: What Is Urban Heat Island Effect (UHI)? 2011, Invisible Structures, Inc. 20 July 2012, http://www.invisiblestructures.com/uhi.html
5. Necessity
Summary
Sources
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