Improving urban irrigation efficiency by using weather‐based “smart” controllers

Mayer, Peter; Deoreo, William B.

doi:10.1002/j.1551-8833.2010.tb10054.x

Cited by 20 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…The former approach, taken in a study of 2,294 homes in California, indicates that about 53% of the properties over-irrigate, which is defined to be irrigation with an application ratio of actual to theoretical irrigation above 1.0. (Mayer & DeOreo, 2010). Soil-moisture sensors were installed in all of these California homes, regardless of whether they irrigated above or below theoretical requirements.…”

Section: Maximum Application Rate Isoquant-gpd/accountmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting and managing residential potable irrigation using parcel‐level databases

et al. 2013

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The Conserve Florida Water Clearinghouse has developed Internet‐based software called EZ Guide to assist Florida water utilities in evaluating water use efficiency. This modeling approach estimates single‐family outdoor water use for every parcel using a uniform statewide property appraisers' database to estimate irrigated area for each parcel. Billing data are needed to estimate the irrigation application rates for each parcel, although few utilities have used the available data for this purpose. Analyses using these unique databases for a benchmark utility in Florida provide new insights into the overall impact of single‐family outdoor water use and cost‐effective management options. A key result is that only a small percentage of homes are large irrigators, which makes them candidates for irrigation best management practices. However, this study also shows a dramatic rise in the prevalence of inground sprinkler systems over the past few decades, which has led to increased irrigation application rates.

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Section: Maximum Application Rate Isoquant-gpd/accountmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting and managing residential potable irrigation using parcel‐level databases

et al. 2013

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“…That the decrease did not correlate with any other variables suggests expert programming outweighs the effects of homeowners' system setting adjustments on irrigation savings. Mayer and DeOreo (2010) similarly found that the installation method was one of the few factors that affected water savings in their study of a California smart irrigation controller program. Here, the finding also implies there is room for greater irrigation savings in homes installed with contractor-programmed controllers without the risk of affecting homeowners' satisfaction with them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Second, the significant positive association between survey participants' relative decrease in irrigation and university controller programming reinforces earlier conclusions that implementation techniques are critical to the proper installation and programming of smart controllers and their contribution to water conservation (Pittenger et al, 2004;St. Hilaire et al, 2008;McCready et al, 2009;Davis and Dukes, 2010;Mayer and DeOreo, 2010;C ardenas-Lailhacar and Dukes, 2012;Dukes, 2012). That the decrease did not correlate with any other variables suggests expert programming outweighs the effects of homeowners' system setting adjustments on irrigation savings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting Satisfaction with Smart Irrigation Controllers and Their Long‐Term Use among Homeowners in Central Florida

Morera

Monaghan

Dukes

et al. 2017

J American Water Resour Assoc

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Studies throughout Florida have shown smart controllers can substantially reduce irrigation under residential high‐water use conditions. However, successful promotion requires understanding the link between controller performance and the mechanisms by which they are adopted. This article compares irrigation water‐use and survey data collected from households installed with soil moisture sensor and evapotranspiration controllers. The study investigated whether the relative change in irrigation use between two years preceding and two years following installation was a reliable predictor of a homeowner's satisfaction with the device and likelihood of continuing to use it. Results indicated relative changes in irrigation use were only significantly associated with the quality of controller programming. Satisfaction with the controller was largely attributable to satisfaction with the appearance of the landscape and the perceived water‐saving effectiveness of the controller whereas the likelihood of its continued use was only significantly predicted by the level of technical knowledge regarding its functioning and whether or not challenges were experienced with it. Targeting homeowners with supplemental user‐friendly information may best support their long‐term adoption of smart controllers while providing irrigation contractors with training in implementation techniques would represent an integrated strategy for added reductions in residential outdoor water use.

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“…While landscapers and irrigation specialists were rated top sources of information, only 19% of all survey participants hired an irrigation specialist, and 13% hired a landscaper, to routinely inspect their irrigation systems. Earlier studies have stressed the importance of technical expertise to the proper functioning of smart controllers (Cárdenas-Lailhacar & Dukes, 2012;Davis & Dukes, 2012;Dukes, 2012;Mayer & DeOreo, 2010;St. Hilaire et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although declining indoor water use in the United States over the past two decades can be traced to efficiency improvements implemented both through fixture retrofits and standards mandated by legislative provisions, the irrigation efficiency potential in urban landscapes remains enormous (DeOreo & Mayer, ; DeOreo, Mayer, Dziegielewski, & Kiefer, ; Hoyenga & Reaves, ; Mayer & DeOreo, ). The increased prevalence of in‐ground potable irrigation systems has led to higher outdoor water use in single‐family residences (Bremer, Keeley, Jager, Fry, & Lavis, ; Endter‐Wada, Kurtzman, Keenan, Kjelgren, & Neale, ; Friedman, Heaney, Morales, & Palenchar, ; Palenchar, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolving response to smart irrigation controllers in high water‐use central Florida homes

2018

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Efforts to improve urban irrigation efficiency through the promotion of smart controllers represent a critical water resource management strategy in Florida. However, targeted initiatives require knowledge of household characteristics and preferences among high irrigators to ensure acceptance and continued use of the devices. This article compares survey data collected in 2014 and 2017 from high‐water‐use homes in Orange County, Florida, with soil moisture sensor and evapotranspiration controllers installed, to evaluate long‐term response to the technologies. Results indicate the perceived water‐saving effectiveness of the controllers and whether challenges were experienced operating them significantly predicted satisfaction with the controllers and the likelihood of continuing to use them, respectively, during both periods. The likelihood of continued use after 2017 was almost 12 times higher if a respondent was satisfied with the controller and 82% lower if any challenge was experienced with it. Increased familiarity and comfort with the controllers would enhance long‐term adoption.

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Improving urban irrigation efficiency by using weather‐based “smart” controllers

Cited by 20 publications

References 1 publication

Predicting and managing residential potable irrigation using parcel‐level databases

Predicting and managing residential potable irrigation using parcel‐level databases

Predicting Satisfaction with Smart Irrigation Controllers and Their Long‐Term Use among Homeowners in Central Florida

Evolving response to smart irrigation controllers in high water‐use central Florida homes

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