McDonald’s Testing NewGrass Against Sod

. So the golden arches are going green and NewGrass is helping out. Well, at least at one McDonald’s in Southern California is. It’s an artificial grass versus sod test. However, we think we know who will come out on top!

A McDonald’s restaurant in Pacific Beach is installing a strip of NewGrass artificial grass to see how the synthetic lawn performs over time. In addition, they want to evaluate customer reaction. As such, they will compare install cost, watering and maintenance against sod grass.

As part of its landscaping when it installed solar panels, the McDonald’s franchise also had sod grass and a watering system installed on the side of the building. In early December they will install a similarly sized strip of NewGrass on the opposite side of the building.

“I saw those solar panels, and I thought, holy cow. How can they be so environmentally conscious regarding their electricity, yet plant turf grass right under those panels. This area is experiencing drought,” said our NewGrass President.. “Also, add in the costs and potential environmental hazards of pesticides and herbicide., At that point it just doesn’t make sense. NewGrass is a smart alternative.” Plus, we know it increases property value.

Artificial Grass Versus Sod: NewGrass is the Answer

So, the City of San Diego declared a Level 2 Drought Alert on June 1, limiting landscape irrigation for homes and business to three times a week, for no more than 10 minutes for each watering from November 1 through May 31, and no more than seven minutes for each watering between June 1 and October 31. In this artificial grass versus sod scenario, there is a clear winner.

And artificial grass versus sod isn’t the only consideration.For instance, the McDonald’s, on Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach, made history. They are the first restaurant in the nationwide fast food chain to be powered by solar energy. The restaurant installed “solar panel trees” on the roof of its parking shade. Hence, the 14-kilowatt system will help McDonald’s reduce its carbon emissions by 16 metric tons annually, the company reported.

NewGrass: Personal Touch was the Key

However, it was our NewGrass President who personally approached the manager of the McDonald’s to address artificial grass versus sod. Shockingly, even after paying for sod, the restaurant agreed. Consequently,. NewGrass install a test strip on the opposite side of the building.

“We’re confident they’ll see the difference in a pretty short amount of time,” he said.

However, the solar tree panels also include charging stations. Customers can charge electric vehicles while enjoying a Happy Meal. Hence, the project will serve as a case study. If it works well, it could be widely implemented.