When I tell people I work for Purchase Green artificial grass, the first thing most do is express interest because artificial grass is typically a product the average person doesn’t know all that much about. And, more often than not, people will follow up with some variant on “Boy, the drought sure must be good for business!”
It’s no secret that the drought and the resulting water restrictions imposed on residents have driven interest in artificial grass. It is, after all, a fantastic means of conserving water. For example, a typical residence with 1,000 square-feet of artificial grass will save over 700,000 gallons of water in the useful lifetime of the grass when compared to irrigating a natural lawn.
Water conservation is one beneficial feature of an artificial grass lawn. But there are many others. People choose artificial grass for a number of reasons. Helping customers find a product that meets their needs is what Purchase Green is in business to do.
I wouldn’t work for, nor shop at, a company that exploits a crisis for increased profitability. And I would certainly not recommend friends and family to do so either. The truth is, at Purchase Green, we want it to rain just as much as you do. We live here. Our families live here. And we know our products do not depend on drought to be valuable.
GODZILLA EL NINO
If you live in California or anywhere on the west coast you’re likely familiar with the potentially forthcoming “Godzilla El Nino” that promises a respite for those of us suffering through one of the most severe droughts in state history.
We say bring it on.
California’s water situation is dire. Simply put, we need rain. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration meteorologist Tom Di Liberto recently wrote a fantastic (and deeply troubling) piece on the size of the water hole California is in. Actually, in his estimation, it “isn’t so much a hole as a giant chasm.”
According to Di Liberto’s calculations, every region in California is missing at least a year’s worth of rain and snow. Some regions are missing two years’ worth.
As Di Liberto notes, “every region in California would need record-breaking amounts of rain. The south coast of California would have to receive precipitation over 300% of normal (nearly 53 inches of rain)! But hey, that’s only a mere 14.95 inches higher than the current record for wettest water year ever.”
But even if the forecasted El Nino materializes this year, it is unlikely to pull the state out of the drought entirely. And if it does dump that much rain, it may be a case of too much of a good thing.
If that much rain were to fall, flooding and mudslides would likely reach epic proportions and result in billions of dollars in property damage. So too little rain would be bad and too much rain could also be bad. Seems like we can’t catch a break!
Ultimately, climatologists agree that there is a strong chance for a wetter than normal winter in California this year. But there is also a chance it doesn’t occur. Climate is a fickle thing. And if Purchase Green based our business model on what Mother Nature decides to do or not do then, well, we wouldn’t be in business very long.
BE PREPARED
Conservation of resources is a prudent choice both in times of plenty and times of need. As the Boy Scouts like to remind us, it’s best to be prepared. That’s why at Purchase Green we know our products aren’t dependent on calamity. In fact, Purchase Green has doubled its growth every year since we opened in 2008, when drought was nowhere near the problem it is today. And the artificial grass industry as a whole has been seen sustained growth long before this latest drought (note: if you’re interested in the history of artificial grass click here). That growth is due to the fact we offer a product that features an array of benefits including, but not limited to, water conservation. Having a drought-tolerant landscape is more about preparing for the future than reacting to the past. Artificial grass helps conserve water whether we’re in a drought or not.
Conservation is just one of many reasons to consider artificial grass. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a beautiful, functional lawn. For a lot of us, a green lawn is part of what we think of when picturing what the American Dream looks like. Artificial grass meets that need. If you want a great-looking lawn all year long, we can help with that.
Artificial grass also saves money. In most cases an artificial grass lawn will pay for itself in three to five years – not only by cutting out irrigation expenses but also the costs associated with maintenance. If you want a lush, green lawn that requires minimal maintenance and pays for itself, we can help with that too.
Artificial grass is also an environmentally-friendly choice. “But how can an artificial lawn be good for the environment!?” you might be yelling at your monitor. Well, with artificial grass you eliminate the need for fertilization and pesticides. You also no longer need to mow – and lawn mowers, it turns out, are some of the worst polluters around. In addition, the EPA estimates that over 17 million gallons of fuel, mostly gasoline, are spilled each year while refueling lawn equipment. That’s more than all the oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez. Maybe your reason for wanting an artificial grass lawn is that you want to reduce air, ground and water pollution. We’ve got you covered.
So how do I respond to people who, while almost always in a well-meaning fashion, suggest we’re benefiting from the drought? I tell them to come by one of our 12 (and counting) locations to see for themselves what artificial grass is all about. Because at Purchase Green we know our products provide outstanding quality and value…rain or shine.
