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Smart sprinklers only water your lawn when it's thirsty
Putting your sprinklers on a timer system is probably the best way to avoid under-watering your plants -- but the "set and forget" mentality isn't the most economical. What if it rains during the week and you forget to turn the timer off? Now you're wasting water and drowning your lawn. A company called ETwater thinks it has a better automatic solution: a smart sprinkler that only waters your lawn when it actually needs it.
Rachio app update can lower home lawn watering usage up to 30%
Rachio, developers of the amazing Iro smart sprinkler controller, today announced an app update that can reduce residential irrigation water usage by up to 30 percent. Version 1.7 of the free Rachio app uses enhanced evapotranspiration (ET) algorithms to move even closer to calculating the absolute minimum amount of watering required to keep a lawn or garden nice and green. Using ET-based rain delay, the app no longer looks just at actual precipitation a day before and after a scheduled watering time. The app now monitors true soil moisture loss and skips the irrigation schedule if it appears that sufficient water is present. Another change in the app is the addition of new vegetation, soil, exposure (shade), sprinkler nozzle and slope options, which creates up to 168 unique cycle/soak settings. By tweaking the data, it's possible to reduce water runoff and optimize the watering schedule. The app also allows the ability to create custom nozzle types with unique flow rates. The final update is absolutely amazing and really demonstrates the power of connected devices. If you have a Nest Protect fire alarm/CO detector, you can link the two devices. If your smoke alarm goes off for a predetermined period of time, the Iro can automatically cycle sprinklers around the house, hopefully delaying the spread of fire to neighboring homes. The update is available for download and installation today.
Edyn's smart gardening system gives your plants exactly what they need
Smart home gardening devices frequently tell you that your plants need a little TLC, but they don't always deliver it; you frequently have to bring out a hose or watering can. If Edyn successfully funds its smart garden system, you may not have to trudge out to the backyard quite so often. The core is a WiFi-connected sensor that detects both the soil quality and ambient conditions, cross-checking those against your choice of greenery. If the sensor decides that your plants need some hydration, Edyn's iOS app automatically tells an optional smart valve to deliver just the right amount of water-- yes, you can be waste-free and lazy. Both the sensor and valve combine solar power with lithium-ion batteries, so you don't have to worry about watering on cloudy days.
DIY kit lets houseplants Twitter when they need water
Finally, your mind-exploding, breakdown-inducing struggle to keep your houseplants watered regularly is getting a little help. A group called Botanicalls has come up with a method to monitor your plants remotely, then be Twittered when they need some water. Taking a slightly different direction than the ThirstyLight, the system is based around the popular (and versatile) Arduino board, which is combined with a DIY moisture sensor, and a small piece of code that will alert you when your greenery is starting to need a drink. Look, we'll be honest with you: it's a pretty complicated process to go through just to figure out when your plants need water, but if you're as serious about flora as we think you are, this will be a dream come true.[Via Make]
