Our relationship with water has changed. Once, it seemed like an infinite resource in certain parts of the world. Lately, however, water has become a force — unreliable, unpredictable, ruled by nature and disrupted by a changing climate. Our relationship with water has evolved. We still need water to drink, to bathe and to grow. In return, water requires appreciation, respect and conservation. To ensure that we have a sustainable future with water, we have to be smart.
One manufacturer that is taking a big-picture approach to helping homeowners be smarter about water use is Rachio, maker of smart irrigation controllers. According to Rachio, their growing user community has saved a collective 50 billion gallons of water from being wasted. But Rachio believes in doing more. So, in addition to using technology to inform smarter water use, Rachio is an advocate for smart landscaping and smart disposal of traditional sprinkler systems.
What Is Smart Watering?
Having water sense means more than water conservation. Smart water use means using less and wasting less. Smart water systems use data to help mitigate and manage water use. Rachio creates tailored smart schedules based on the specific needs of your lawn, including plant type, soil type, sun exposure and more. Rachio sprinkler controllers are designed to lower your water bill while maintaining a beautiful yard.
Compared to conventional sprinkler timers which operate on a set-it-and-forget-it system, Rachio smart sprinklers are intelligent, responsive and proven to use at least 20% less water. As a result of proven water savings, Rachio’s smart sprinkler controllers have earned the EPA WaterSense label.
They are also digitally connected to allow for smartphone control and smart sensing. Rachio partners with the top smart-home platforms including Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT and more, making it the most connected controller on the market. The mobile app lets you manage your sprinkler system from anywhere.
Rachio controllers come with even more ways to help reduce water waste such as simple settings to accommodate local or regional water restrictions. Rachio is equipped with features like cycle and soak and seasonal shifts for your watering schedules. These make sure your plants are getting the right amount of water without runoff or excess watering.
And Rachio sprinklers help homeowners prevent watering in wet, rainy or ground-soaked conditions. The controllers are equipped with hyperlocal Weather Intelligence Plus and Rachio wireless flow meter compatibility. In a nutshell, Rachio knows when to water – and when not to.
From Irrigation to Landscaping
The team at Rachio is committed to water conservation and landscaping. They believe that smart water use is the key to balancing the two. According to Rachio CEO Kim Sentovich, “Our goal at Rachio is to continue to educate about the importance of smarter water conservation, which we believe leads to action. While smart irrigation controllers are a key piece of the solution, we encourage people to make smart, sustainable decisions about their landscaping overall.”
In many cases, switching up your landscape can be a great way to save water. The practice of xeriscaping has particular appeal for homeowners in drought-stricken areas. And most landscapes of any size can benefit from swapping out existing plants for native and drought-resistant alternatives. And all of these landscapes are still supported by Rachio smart sprinkler controllers.
Smart Disposal of Old Controllers
In addition to preventing water waste, Rachio is committed to mitigating electronic waste by helping recycle old controllers at no cost. Rachio has partnered with Blue Star Recyclers, a 501c3 social enterprise which recycles electronics and creates local jobs for people with disabilities.
