Dubai: Government, businesses and homeowners, seeking ways to reduce soaring water bills and curb carbon emissions, have found that major savings can made by using artificial grass in landscaping.
According to the United Nations, the GCC countries are among the world's highest per capita water users, with UAE residents topping the table, consuming an average of 550 litres a day, 80 per cent of which is produced by expensive desalination.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai will invest Dh120 billion over the next five years in power plants, desalination units and sewerage systems to meet future demand.
"If a family of four reduced their time in the shower by one minute per day, they would save 11,079 litres of water a year, or filling a bath tub only halfway would save 13,870 litres per annum," said Markus Oberlin, general manager of Farnek Avireal, a leading UAE-based company advising building owners on how to dramatically cut carbon emissions and utility bills.
Savings
"Putting that into context, the savings potential for local governments using artificial grass in public urban landscaped areas such as road verges, traffic islands and interchanges must run into hundreds of millions of dirhams. It needs 2.5 million litres of water to irrigate a 200 square metre lawn over 40 months, the same amount of water that would fill an Olympic sized swimming pool," he added.
"With a natural garden costing Dh40 per square metre per annum to maintain, the cost of installing synthetic grass is paid back in less than four years. Over ten years the savings (on a 200 square metre garden) amount to approximately Dh50,000," added Oberlin.
However, it is not just about saving water and saving money. Each square metre of natural grass produces over nine kilogrammes of carbon dioxide (CO2) through irrigation and regular garden maintenance.
"Modern, low maintenance, natural looking artificial grasses are in widespread use in Europe and North America, but are surprisingly rare in the Middle East where maintaining natural grass is much costlier and damaging to the environment," said Oberlin.
Schools are now becoming increasingly aware of the environmental issues and cost savings to be made by laying the latest simulated turf, for football, rugby and hockey pitches, which also helps to keep school fees at affordable levels.
"Natural grass can also harbour insect colonies, especially mosquitoes which are a major health hazard. Artificial grass doesn't need to be sprayed with the chemical pesticides that can be harmful to children and animals," said Oberlin.
"In addition, petrol-powered lawn mowers can cause as much pollution in one hour as 10 cars collectively. It also eliminates grass clippings which are among the biggest landfill contributors to the green house effect," added Oberlin.
- 550 litres of water used per person per day in UAE
- 80% of the water is made through desalination
- Dh40 grass maintenance cost per metre per year
