Is it time to rethink grass lawns?

Two urban ecologists have questioned the environmental impact of grass lawns and have asked people to consider using alternatives.

Urban ecologists Maria Ignatieva and Marcus Hedblom have written a paper published in the journal ‘Science’ that looks at the impact of grass lawns on the environment. They argue that the negative effects on the environment out way the benefits.

A lawn requires fertiliser, needs mowing and is watered during dry weather spells. Petrol lawn mowers produce carbon monoxide and other toxins. In arid regions of the world, lawns use 75% of the water consumed by the average household, plus weed killers and fertilizers can pollute it.

Grass does consume carbon from the air and this is a benefit, but the authors of the paper say that the disadvantages of a lawn are greater than the benefits.

Ignatieva and Hedblom looked at alternatives such as using natural meadow grass that is allowed to grow wild, and new short grass plants. Though they do not recommend artificial grass, other experts do, since it needs hardly any maintenance. It does not require watering, fertilising or mowing. Debris is easily removed with a leaf blower or broom, and the reduction on maintenance saves users both money and time.

Artificial grass looks good and is available in a number of green shades. Manufacturers of artificial grass are working on processes that reduce organic emissions and non-recyclable waste.

If you care about the environment and want to reduce your water usage, consider installing artificial grass in your Wrexham garden.

How long does vinyl flooring last?

Whether installing new flooring in the home or workplace, most people want a floor that will last a long time. Vinyl flooring in North Wales is a popular choice because it is easy to maintain and looks good, but how long does it last?

Standard quality vinyl flooring should last between ten to twenty years. Obviously, vinyl installed in the home will last longer than that installed in a busy business area where lots of people walk on the floor every day. Top quality luxury vinyl tiles are thicker than average and come with a 25-year guarantee. They cost more, but the flooring will not need replacing so often, so in the long run can be less expensive than installing thinner tiles.

There are things that you can do that will make vinyl last longer. Firstly, buy a cleaner that is designed to be applied to vinyl floors, because it will not scratch the floor. Use acidic cleaning fluids that break down dirt and grime; simply adding vinegar to a cleaning product can add acidity

Before mopping, sweep or vacuum the loose dirt and dust to prevent scratches. Avoid moving heavy furniture around vinyl floors as this could damage the floor. You can attach protective pads to chair and table legs that prevent damage.

Don’ t worry about spilling liquids on vinyl, as it is waterproof and suitable for kitchens and bathrooms.

As long as you regularly clean vinyl flooring thoroughly, it can easily outlast the manufacturer's guarantee period.

Does flooring affect purchasing decisions?

Most people, when shopping for items, believe that they freely make buying decisions. Studies have suggested though that the type of flooring a business uses can affect how people make their purchasing decisions.

The two most common types of flooring in retail areas are soft carpet and hard solid floors. Researchers at the University of British Columbia theorised that soft carpets make people feel more comfortable and this could affect the way they judge products. To test this theory, they asked people to stand on either hard tiles of soft carpet tiles and look at products that were close by or at a moderate distance.

The people standing on the carpet tiles judged nearby products to feel less comforting than objects placed farther away. The people who stood on hard tiles were more neutral in their views.

A member of the Meyers-Levi team that carried out the research said:

“When we look at objects that are close by, the bodily sensations elicited by the flooring are more likely to be used as a comparison standard, not an interpretive frame."

People tend to walk more quickly on hard floors than carpeted ones. This is why some stores use hard floors at the entrance designed to guide shoppers quickly inside. These lead to carpet areas that encourage people to slow down while viewing products.

Other research found that dark floors encourage men to shop, while lighter floors encourage women.

Most retail businesses in North Wales, where an increase in footfall was reported last year, install commercial flooring for its looks and durability. These studies show that the type of flooring installed could influence customers' buying habits

Can your floor covering be carbon negative?

Interface, a flooring manufacturer, says that it will be carbon negative by 2040.

Homeowners and businesses that use a flooring company in Chester often ask about the environmental impact of flooring options. Many floor coverings, such as luxury vinyl tiles, are manufactured using recycled materials, and recycled wood can be used for hardwood flooring. This reduces the impact on the environment, but the manufacturing process does not create zero carbon emissions.

Jay Gould of Interface, speaking San Francisco’s Global Climate Action Summit in September, said that his company would have zero effect on the environment by 2020, and move towards a negative effect in 2040. Carbon negative means that the company will remove more carbon than it puts into the environment.

Interface, which manufacture carpet and luxury vinyl tiles, will reduce emissions in its own factory and among its raw material sourcing and supply chain partners. Interface is investing in researching ways in which carbon emissions can be reduced through clean power and the development of carbon-reducing factories. In 2017, the company showed a carbon negative carpet tile prototype, demonstrating that such production is possible.

Interface is encouraging other manufacturers to pursue carbon neutral processes. Lawrence Tubiana, the Chief Executive of the European Climate Foundation, welcomed Interface's policy, saying:

“For years, many companies have been pursuing carbon neutrality as a matter of responsible governance, but now, leading companies are thinking much more ambitiously and pushing the boat out to completely drive emissions out of their operations."

Could next year’s carpet colours be influenced by virtual reality?

According to the Global Colour Trend Forecast, trending colours for 2019 will be inspired by video games and virtual reality, with palettes dominated by blues and greens.

The Global Color Trend Forecast is compiled in partnership with Anne Marie Commandeur from Stijlinstituut, an Amsterdam based materials and textile agency. She is exploring the way colour stimulates the senses, and says that the key trends for colour in 2019 will be what she calls the ‘Reflect’ palettes, the main themes of which are play, primal and grow.

Commandeur said:

“Reflect stresses the importance of light. It explores how the innovative lighting systems being designed and developed interact with the spaces they inhabit, including the floor. Textiles are ultimately versatile: they can reflect as well as absorb. She says that, like a video game or virtual reality world, a carpet creates an interactive and sensory immersive environment.”

She adds that carpets are about texture and how they reflect light, but they also have an aural effect in the way that they absorb sound.

The Global Colour Trend Forecast is an important influence for carpet manufacturers to come up with new products that feature colours from the palettes covered. Those choosing new carpets in North Wales’ desirable homes could find their choice of colour and textures influenced by video games and virtual reality, even though they may not be aware of this. Homeowners, nonetheless, are advised to simply choose a colour because it appeals to them rather than being part of a trend.