Turf battle over reflective burns
Dalton, Ga.-based Go Green Synthetic Lawn Solutions is rolling out a new artificial grass product that provides a solution to what it describes as an industry-wide issue with reflective burns caused by Low-E windows.
With the introduction of Platinum HeatMaxx, the company is laying claim to the distinction: first and only manufacturer to offer a 15-year warranty against reflective burns.
The artificial turf manufacturer described heat as the enemy of turf. And the proliferation of Low-E windows can exasperate the problem, the company said.
"This has been quite a frustrating problem for our entire industry," said Michelle Balicki, VP of sales and marketing. "The finger has been pointed at the artificial turf manufacturer to mitigate an issue that has affected homeowners, architects, and commercial properties of all kind. But the truth is, this is clearly a much more wide-spread problem that expands much farther than our industry. We are just very excited to be able to provide a solution."
With the increase of these Low-E windows to create a better energy efficient solution for both residential and commercial applications, the synthetic turf industry has been challenged with reflective conditions that create very high temperatures. These reflective conditions have been reported around the world, to burn and melt surfaces such as aluminum siding on houses, paint on cars, and, among many others, artificial lawns.
Most synthetic lawns made of polypropylene and polyethylene have melt temperatures around 320°F. Go Green's Platinum HeatMaxx series made with nylon, have a melting point of 460°F. Because of this, they are able to withstand the high temperatures that exist in these reflective environments.
David Davis, President of Go Green stated, "We have been working for years to perfect our proprietary blend of nylon yarns to combat the heat issues our industry has been challenged with."
