Do grass lawns help global warming?

[burritos]

Waste of water yes. They absorb CO2, better than asphalt no?

[tripp]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Apr 4 2007, 12:40 AM) [snapback]417482[/snapback]</div>

Waste of water yes. They absorb CO2, better than asphalt no?
[/b]

Probably depends upon how much energy it takes to move the water from the source to the spigot (assuming that it must be watered to grow well). Then the amount of CO2 released in the cutting of the grass. If the grass is bagged then there's the CO2 cost of the bag (assuming it's plastic) and the transportation of the grass to a landfill (if it's not composted). Could be a wash. It obviously depends on the answers to the above questions (and probably more that I didn't think of).

[CMonster]

Better than asphalt, yes. Grass filters CO2, allows rain water to filter back in to the ground, and doesn't contribute to the Urban Heat Island effect. Green roofs are pretty interesting for the same reasons.

Still, high maintenance golf course type lawns have obvious drawbacks, so I prefer a more natural meadow style lawn.


If you aren't familiar with Urban Heat Islands, you can read more on Wikipedia here.

Materials commonly used in urban areas, such as concrete and asphalt, have significantly different thermal bulk properties (including heat capacity and thermal conductivity) and surface radiative properties (albedo and emissivity) than the surrounding rural areas. [/b]

[SSimon]

Grass lawns are virtually useless, providing a mono culture that's of no use for wildlife and if they have short root systems, don't do much by way of co2 sequestering. I'm too lazy to research, but I'm wondering if the amount of CO2 sequestered by grass is dependent on the above ground mass of the grass. If we mow the grass to and inch or two, wouldn't less CO2 be sequestered?

I located this link concerning turf grass and CO2....

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/vr01data/chapter4.html

An exerpt......

"Exelon (formerly Commonwealth Edison and PECO) reported on its Illinois Prairie Grass Plantings project, in which native prairie grasses are planted on various properties in the utility’s State system. In contrast to conventional turf grass, the deep root systems of native Illinois prairie grasses afford environmental benefits that include reducing soil erosion and downstream flooding and eliminating the need for irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. In addition, the deeper root systems sequester more carbon dioxide. The project claimed responsibility for the sequestration of 658 metric tons carbon dioxide in 2001. In another project, Exelon reused wood utility poles that are structurally sound in order to avoid the harvesting of trees to manufacture new utility poles. The utility pole reuse project was reported to have sequestered 753 metric tons carbon dioxide in 2001"

Are turf grasses better than impermeable asphalt, yes. Do they allow for an improved environment, sequester as much CO2, stabilize banks, recharge groundwater effectively, prevent erosion, feed and provide habitat for wildlife, and do their deep root systems help filter pollutants from rain water, no. For the latter scenario, plant a native grass and forb plant community on half of your lawn and dump the gas mower. Tripp brought up a point that was right on. An hour of running your lawn mower is equivalent to driving you car for 100 miles.

[burritos]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SSimon @ Apr 4 2007, 11:35 AM) [snapback]417649[/snapback]</div>

Grass lawns are virtually useless, providing a mono culture that's of no use for wildlife and if they have short root systems, don't do much by way of co2 sequestering. I'm too lazy to research, but I'm wondering if the amount of CO2 sequestered by grass is dependent on the above ground mass of the grass. If we mow the grass to and inch or two, wouldn't less CO2 be sequestered?

I located this link concerning turf grass and CO2....

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/vr01data/chapter4.html

An exerpt......

"Exelon (formerly Commonwealth Edison and PECO) reported on its Illinois Prairie Grass Plantings project, in which native prairie grasses are planted on various properties in the utility’s State system. In contrast to conventional turf grass, the deep root systems of native Illinois prairie grasses afford environmental benefits that include reducing soil erosion and downstream flooding and eliminating the need for irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. In addition, the deeper root systems sequester more carbon dioxide. The project claimed responsibility for the sequestration of 658 metric tons carbon dioxide in 2001. In another project, Exelon reused wood utility poles that are structurally sound in order to avoid the harvesting of trees to manufacture new utility poles. The utility pole reuse project was reported to have sequestered 753 metric tons carbon dioxide in 2001"

Are turf grasses better than impermeable asphalt, yes. Do they allow for an improved environment, sequester as much CO2, stabilize banks, recharge groundwater effectively, prevent erosion, feed and provide habitat for wildlife, and do their deep root systems help filter pollutants from rain water, no. For the latter scenario, plant a native grass and forb plant community on half of your lawn and dump the gas mower. Tripp brought up a point that was right on. An hour of running your lawn mower is equivalent to driving you car for 100 miles.
[/b]

I always thought this, but then I took my 11 mo old to the local community park and had him run around on iit. It was very pleasant for the both of us. Our home lawn is shot to hell cause I rarely water it. I'm surprised I haven't heard from the HOA yet.

[skruse]

Climate-appropriate lawns have there place. Too often we substitute water for knowledge - thereby increasing use of fossil fuels (water pumping, mowing). The vast majority of homes, schools, churches, businesses operate phantom farms. Soil is tilled, seed sown, oil-based fertilizer applied, growing plants are tended and offending weeds are poisoned and removed and the crop is irrigated. After a couple of weeks the crop is harvested (mown), then tossed aside. Seems an incredible waste for all the effort.

So-called gardners make increasing use of fossil fueled dust blowers that contribute to particulate matter, aerosols and noise.

Our efforts to imitate 17th century European estates are heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Constructive alternative: greater use of climate-appropriate grasses and ground covers that require minimal pruning and irrigation. Greater use of quiet electric mowers that recharge from the grid and home photovoltaic systems.

[dbermanmd]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Apr 4 2007, 02:40 AM) [snapback]417482[/snapback]</div>

Waste of water yes. They absorb CO2, better than asphalt no?
[/b]

Obviously not - they indicate the presence of homosapians - the #1 cause of gw. So no lawns = no humans = no global warming.

how do you measure the co2 we exhale every day?? think about 6+Billion homosapians pumping out co2 every second of every day - anyone ever measure that? perhaps population control would be best - less humans - less lawns - less energy requirements - less fossil fuel use - less meat consumption ........

perhaps advocate knocking off all people in the top 1% of net worth/income - those are the guys with the big carbon footprints, the private jets, the tax evaders, the HUGE co2 producers - anybody calculate the net savings in co2 production doing that?

[nerfer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Apr 4 2007, 11:50 AM) [snapback]417660[/snapback]</div>

I always thought this, but then I took my 11 mo old to the local community park and had him run around on iit. It was very pleasant for the both of us. Our home lawn is shot to hell cause I rarely water it. I'm surprised I haven't heard from the HOA yet.
[/b]

I'm not sure what your opening lines mean. But SSimon's post relates to the areas where tall-grass prairie can live, and S. California is a different ballgame altogether. For most of the country, lawns will go dormant in hot dry weather, and spring back to life when rains come, but there may not be enough rain in Ventura County.

Grass lawns do not reduce global warming gases because most of the carbon absorbed is released when the mowed grass decomposes. The small amount that is sequestered into the soil is more than made up for by the fossil fuel used to mow the lawn. A maintenance-free lawn made up of native landscaping is beneficial, particularly in areas where you can have good vegetation growth without irrigation (sprinklers). In fact, tall grass prairie will sequester more carbon than a forest of the same area.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbermanmd @ Apr 4 2007, 12:12 PM) [snapback]417676[/snapback]</div>

Obviously not - they indicate the presence of homosapians - the #1 cause of gw. So no lawns = no humans = no global warming.

how do you measure the co2 we exhale every day?? think about 6+Billion homosapians pumping out co2 every second of every day - anyone ever measure that? perhaps population control would be best - less humans - less lawns - less energy requirements - less fossil fuel use - less meat consumption ........

perhaps advocate knocking off all people in the top 1% of net worth/income - those are the guys with the big carbon footprints, the private jets, the tax evaders, the HUGE co2 producers - anybody calculate the net savings in co2 production doing that?
[/b]

Hey, he does listen to our posts! :P (Altho I still see two errors in the first paragraph )

[SSimon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Apr 4 2007, 11:50 AM) [snapback]417660[/snapback]</div>

I always thought this, but then I took my 11 mo old to the local community park and had him run around on iit. It was very pleasant for the both of us. Our home lawn is shot to hell cause I rarely water it. I'm surprised I haven't heard from the HOA yet.
[/b]

Burritos, they now sell low-grow, low maintenance grasses for the home landscape. I wonder if your little one would like this? Here's a link...

http://www.wildflowerfarm.com/Merchant2/me...Category_Code=E

I don't know if this is appropriate for your area, but you may want to look into this.

My turf is shot too. I never water or fertilize and there are icky brown patches all over. My neighbor who takes great care of his beautiful lawn, has a major grub problem. I have a butterfly, lightening bug, bee problem. Mine problem is prettier, I think.

[hill]

A ton of our neighbors are going to THIS route:

http://www.southwestgreens.com/turfgrass.html

Man! They got that stuff looking pretty real. Looks great, and in southern CA where they're currently under drought / H2O restrictions, it seems like the way to go. Our association pays for lawn mowing, so those guys are being paid the same, to do less & less . I DO notice though, that dandilions WILL still grow up ... right at the boarder of the fake lawn :P . We have a few Canada Geese that refuse to fly south for winter ... and their droppings may feed regular lawns ... but sheesh! ... nasty cleanup time if you got to hose Goose s_it out of your fake grass.