Revolutionizing Urban Landscapes with Self-Cooling Artificial Turf
Cities worldwide are adopting a new cooling artificial turf technology that cools the turf through rainwater retention and capillary action, with potential mitigation of urban heat stress via the basic mechanism. Not only does this unique process cut down surface temperatures it also provides a more practical solution to sports fields that is cooler and greener.
The Drawbacks of Conventional Artificial Turf
City parks and sports fields have favored artificial turf for its durability, as it can handle significant use over time. Unfortunately, the trade-offs are substantial – less soil allowing rainwater to soak in and a searing hot pavement that adds directly to the urban heat island effect. Under the sun, synthetic turf can reach 70°C or hotter — causing burns and other heat-related injuries.
Introducing a Cooler Solution
Dutch researchers have created an grass system that integrates underground water storage and capillary irrigation. Described in a report, in Frontiers, in Cities this technology offers a cooler, safer and environmentally friendly option compared to conventional artificial turf.
Integrating a Subsurface Water Storage and Capillary Irrigation System with artificial turf fields, as Dr Marjolein van Huijgevoortand colleagues of the KWR Water Research Institute has shown in practice can reduce surface temperatures drastically. Van Huijgevoort said, “It makes a big difference in evaporation cooling if we manage water with circular onsite below the field.
How It Works
The system features a free-draining water storage layer immediately below the artificial turf and shockpad. This layer stores rainwater that cylinders fill and transport to the surface where it evaporates, cooling thereby up. The weather itself serves to regulate the process, so water evaporates only when cooling is actually desired.
Promising Results from Amsterdam
The results of the field experiments with the novel self-cooling turf demonstrated impressive outcomes. On one of the warmest days in June 2020 in Amsterdam, the temperature of the surface of the cooled turf was only 37 degrees Celsius, which is only 1.7 degrees Celsius hotter than the natural grass and less than half the conventional artificial turf 62.5 degrees Celsius. At the same time, the over plots temperatures were much lower, especially at night, which means less contribution to the urban heat island.
Environmental and Practical Benefits
The cooling turf combines the durability of artificial turf with the cooling benefits of natural grass. It can store nearly as much rainwater as natural grass, reducing stormwater drainage and helping mitigate urban flooding. During dry periods, additional water can be added to the system, or it can be watered like natural grass.
Economic and Research Considerations
While the initial installation costs can be up to twice as expensive as conventional artificial turf, a full-scale cost-benefit analysis is necessary to determine the true value of this investment. Further research is also needed to understand the broader impact of cooling turf on urban environments and its performance in different climates and with various storage sizes, materials, and infills.
The Future of Urban Sports Fields
This innovation is proving to be promising with initial results. From urbanized areas in particular, the Dutch people — especially children — increasingly get their fun and sport needs from play facilities,” van Huijgevoort summarized. “Specific to this work, we demonstrate the pros of that underground water management and capillary irrigation system without the cons associated with artificial turf fields.
Making the Smart Choice for Your Community
For urban planners, community leaders, and sports facility managers, this new technology offers a compelling solution to the challenges of artificial turf. By investing in self-cooling artificial turf, cities can provide safer, more sustainable play areas that help combat the urban heat island effect.