Walk on the Grass
Grass Captures Carbon Dioxide
Walk on the Grass
Emerging research shows that walking barefoot on grass may have protective effects on human health.
Healthy natural grass produces fresh oxygen, captures carbon dioxide, and improves the air we breathe.
Grass is Good
Grass Captures Carbon Dioxide
Walk on the Grass
Natural grass reduces urban heat island effects and can be up to 70 degrees cooler than hardscapes.
Natural grass sod is the most effective ground cover for delaying runoff, reducing erosion, and protecting watersheds.
Grass Captures Carbon Dioxide
Grass Captures Carbon Dioxide
Grass Captures Carbon Dioxide
Beneath natural grass is a thriving ecosystem of insects, arthropods, and soil microbes that can restore disturbed soils to native conditions.
In a typical urban landscape, natural grass captures 90% of atmospheric carbon dioxide, followed by 9% by trees, and 1% by shrubs.
- Natural grass produces fewer lower-body injuries and concussions than synthetic turf.
- 89% of professional football players think artificial turf leads to more soreness/fatigue and will shorten their career.
- Another study recently published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine demonstrated that NCAA Division II and III football players were 63% more likely to have anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and NCAA Division I football players were almost 3 times as likely to have posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries when playing on synthetic turf as opposed natural grass.
- Recent research published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine discovered 16% more lower body injuries on synthetic turf than on natural grass among elite NFL athletes between 2012 and 2016. If all NFL games played on synthetic turf were played on turfgrass during the study period, 319 fewer lower body injuries would be expected.
- Why? Previous research has shown that football cleats interact differently on synthetic and natural grass. Since cleats more easily create divots (a hole in the field from force) on natural grass than on synthetic turf, less force is placed on the body, which may help prevent injury.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT
- Today, plastic and other synthetic materials can be found in nearly everything we touch. For the safety and well-being of our planet, it’s more important than ever to preserve the nature that surrounds and supports us. What better way to integrate nature into our increasingly urban lives than by surrounding ourselves with living, breathing plants?
- In complement with other plants, natural grass supports a planet where all living beings can thrive – including insects, animals and humans. Let’s take advantage of all that natural grass has to offer!
COOLER TEMPERATURES
- Natural grass moderates the surrounding heat and remains at cooler temperatures than hardscapes and other surfaces by as much as 55 degrees, making it safer and more comfortable to walk and play on. Research on the effects of urban heat islands indicates that 57 out of 60 cities measured have seen temperature increases since the 1940s.
- Plants, primarily trees and grasses, help mitigate this effect because of radiative shading and evapotranspiration. These cooling effects not only reduce temperatures in urban environments – they also significantly reduce energy use, cooling costs and carbon emissions from power plants.
