Plastic Lawns:  The Wrong Approach

The following was submitted as a Letter To The Editor of The Los Angeles Times, in response to an article in that newspaper reporting favorably on plastic faux lawns as a practical approach to the region's water shortage.

To the Editor, Los Angeles Times

The problem with ignoring a holistic approach to environmental matters is exemplified by the fact that water saved by installing plastic lawns, in Anaheim and elsewhere, may mean a huge increase in the use of electricity for air conditioning.

The use of petroleum to manufacture such ground- covering materials, and the global warming effects of such production, have also not been considered. The cooling effect of grass lawns and the shade and shadow of real trees must not be overlooked.

If the MWD would pay as much attention to getting agriculture, which uses 85% of the water in California, to conserve no more than 5% of what it wastes, residential customers would no longer be required to do 100% of the water conserving.

How much more beautiful California will be, when our many varieties of landscape plants and real lawns are allowed to thrive, without anyone wasting any water.

Ellen Stern Harris
Executive Director, Fund for The Environment
Editor of www.BeverlyHillsCitizen.org
P.O.Box 228 / Beverly Hills, CA 90213