(Atlanta, Ga.) – The term “celebrity trend” typically conjures up images of $5,000 handbags, private airplanes or dancing on a reality show. But the latest A-Lister must-have is actually coming right out of their backyards. A growing number of celebrities like Jessica Alba, Kristen Bell and David Basche are going green by turning to synthetic turf for their landscape needs.

“I chose synthetic grass for Jessica Alba’s backyard doggie oasis and use it at clients’ homes as often as possible,” said Kari Whitman, celebrity designer. “The eco-friendly synthetic turf looks so realistic and stands up to pet messes, wear and tear. I also love that it eliminates the need for pesticides and fertilizers, making your yard healthier for you and your pets. Plus it saves water and some cities will even give you a rebate on your utility bill. It’s a win-win.”

Synthetic turf is also helping landmarks and pop culture icons beautify landscape while saving water. In contrast to its famed “grotto” and legendary parties, the synthetic grass at the Playboy Mansion looks serene. The Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden at Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival featured a lush, realistic synthetic grass lawn, which was accessible for wheelchairs and walking braces, and easily withstood the event’s heavy foot traffic. Disney World and Disneyland also feature synthetic turf in designated areas throughout their resorts.

Synthetic turf for landscape and recreation is one of the fastest growing segments of the market. Able to be installed in places where grass can’t grow or be effectively maintained, its numerous applications include residential, commercial and municipal landscape; airport grounds; pet parks; playgrounds and rooftops. The Southern Nevada Water Authority estimates that every square foot of natural grass replaced saves 55 gallons of water per year.

About the Synthetic Turf Council: Based in Atlanta, the Synthetic Turf Council was founded in 2003 to promote the industry and to assist buyers and end users with the selection, use and maintenance of synthetic turf systems in sports field, golf, municipal parks, airports, landscape and residential applications. The organization is also a resource for current, credible, and independent research on the safety and environmental impact of synthetic turf.

For more information, visit www.syntheticturfcouncil.org

Source: Synthetic Turf Council

TurfDIRECT PGA quality putting greens are perfect for the business or home owner who wants to entertain guests and/or improve their short game. TurfDIRECT putting greens are 100% custom designed with life-like playability and natural feel – built for tour caliber performance while upgrading the aesthetics of any property.

• Ideal for putting, chipping and pitching
• Designed with fringe, bunkers, shapes and undulations
• Greens can hold approach shots from over 100 yards
• Fully adjustable green speeds from 8-13 on the stimp meter
• Shots grab, spin and respond as if on natural bent-grass green

EPA data reveals that 31 million tons of yard waste and trimmings are land filled each year, representing almost 17% of municipal solid waste

5% of the countries emissions come from lawn machines

According to the EPA, 90 million lawn and garden machines in the US consume hundreds of millions of gallons of gasoline

Systems synthetic turf needs no regular chemical treatment, it eliminates a major source of non-point-source groundwater pollution and human exposure to chemicals.

Americans use between 3 and 6 million tons of fertilizer on residential lawn each year

Homeowners use 10 times more pesticide per acre of lawn than American farms use per acre of crops

According to the EPA, more than 70 million pounds of active pesticide ingredients

The Water Authority offers homeowners a dollar for each square foot of lawn that is covered to less thirsty landscaping, including artificial turf

Commissioners in Clark County, Nevada, voted in 2003 to restrict planting turf in common areas of residential developments, to ban grass lawn at all commercial developments, and to halt construction of golf courses using more than 45 acres of turf for fairways and greens and 5 acres for driving ranges

Golf courses soak up to 500,000-800,000 gallons every day

The average suburban lawn consumes 10,000 gallons water each year

The Natural Xeriscape Council reports that up to 30% of urban water use on the East Coast, and 60% in the West, goes to watering lawns

Artificial turf covers more than 50 million residential yards and over 30 million acres of American ground

A 1986 Gallup survey found that manicured landscaping adds nearly 15% to the value of American homes

The opportunity for continuous play means that one artificial field often accommodates two or three times the playing time of a natural field.

A Division I school spends between $70,000 and $100,000 per year to maintain a natural field

Next to our children, our pets are the most beloved members of our families. Turf Direct’s synthetic turf contains no organic materials that are food for many common insects and household pests such as fleas and tics. As such, these pests will leave your lawn and pets alone. Synthetic turf does not require any fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides or other chemical treatments that can be harmful to your pet.

Turf Direct’s synthetic turf pet systems have a unique drainage quality that makes it ideal for pet owners. By eliminating the dirt and mud found in every natural lawn, synthetic turf keeps the dirt and mud off your pet and ultimately out of your house. The porous nature of Turf Direct’s artificial turf allows pet urine to drain through to the ground beneath without staining the fibers and eliminating 80% of the odor. Similarly, pet feces can be scooped as usual and the remainder washed off with a hose.

Here at Turf Direct we are an artificial grass supplier of lawns that provide peace of mind when it comes to the health and safety of your children and pets.

Turf Direct’s synthetic turf products and systems are made using the latest polyurethane and bio-based technologies from BioCel. BioCel is a new compound used in Turf Direct’s high-performance polyurethane backing systems. Polyurethane backings are proven performers – preserving resources by extending product life and reducing landfill waste. Our bio-based polymers are created from Soybean plants – a stable and 100% renewable resource.

It is estimated that as little as 1% of the Earth’s water is available for human consumption – a limited resource too valuable to waste. The average metropolitan area uses over 1,700 gallons of water every day just to water lawns. Excess watering not only drains the water supply. Run off water from lawns often carries fertilizer and other harmful products back into the water supply. It is also estimated that lawn and garden equipment users inadvertently spill 17 million gallons of fuel each year which also makes its way back into the water table. Here at Turf Direct our synthetic lawns don’t require watering.

Turf Direct and BioCel technology brings it all together in one package – a high-performance, durable, maintenance-free product that is 60-70% green by weight.

Conserving water is good for the environment and good for your wallet. Turf Direct is based out of Arizona and we install Arizona artificial grass in place of real grass everyday. With AZ being one of the hottest states and mostly desert, we understand a little bit about the importance of conserving water. It is estimated that watering the lawn accounts for about 70% of the average household’s water bill every month. Turf Direct’s synthetic lawns don’t require watering. In addition to all of the savings provided by a maintenance-free synthetic lawn, you may even be eligible to get money back from your local water authority. Water conservation has become such a major concern that many water authorities are offering tax rebates for every square foot of natural sod you replace with Turf Direct’s artificial grass.