Ad: Manage updates with the Download App

irrigation

Tapping the computing cloud for smarter water

If irrigation systems were half as smart as scientific calculators, they could cut water usage by 20 percent to 50 percent, says ET Water Systems.

The company earlier this year introduced its SmartBox, a replacement for commercial-scale irrigation controllers that determines the watering needs for landscaping based on a mash-up of site-specific data and local weather. A new version of the device, set for release this summer, will be able to get firmware upgrades over the cell network it uses.

Water conservation is an area that's often considered overlooked by investors and technology entrepreneurs. That's largely because there … Read more

Plant irrigation setup keeps up with local weather

Since the invention of agriculture, people have tried to come up with smarter ways to water plants. Those with indoor gardens have ultimate control over the amount of H20 that goes over the plants, and have only to rely on their gardening sensibilities to gauge how much to use. Those with outdoor gardens, however, are subject to the laws of nature. And with all that outdoor space comes a bigger garden, not as easily watered by hand.

Many people opt for garden timers that space out watering times, but these create a potential for waste. On rainy days, why not … Read more