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VARIABLE WEATHER BUT DRY SPRING
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Summer has shown itself a few times this year, but we have yet to see an extended streak of summer-like weather and the forecast going forward is variable and cooler than normal. However, we are ahead of year to date irrigation need as can be seen from the chart above. Also, can be seen the variability of rainfall from different spots around Portland. Typical summer rain is highly variable based on region. This all makes Weather-Based Irrigation very valuable.
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WEATHER BASED IRRIGATION HAS GREAT ROI
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As we are all seeing in every aspect of our businesses, technology is rapidly changing, and our businesses are benefiting from each advancement. Irrigation control is one of the many parts of Landscape Management that is benefiting from improved technology.
Weather Based Irrigation
can now control your irrigation from anywhere and adjust as needed regardless of time and location. This helps us control your irrigation in the most cost-efficient method.
The operation of these new water management products is based on monitoring and adjusting daily irrigation due to the ever changing weather and associated irrigation need. The problem has been getting the remote on-site irrigation controller to connect with the central control computer in the irrigation manager's office and ideally on their phone. New advances have finally been made to make this easy and affordable.
Pacific Landscape Management is now a Preferred Partner with Weathermatic
This will be allowing us to offer the Weathermatic SmartLink Weather Based Control System with no up-front capital cost. As with many technologies today, their innovative new program is 'Subscription-Based' and comes with the hardware with no upfront capital cost. This makes conversion to weather-based control, which we have been promoting for a decade now a NO-BRAINER.
For the past decade we have been promoting Rainbird's Weather-Based control, originally with ET Manager, and then for the past several years with IQ. We will continue to support the Rainbird systems we have installed but have evaluated and made the strategic decision to move to the Weathermatic Smartlink system going forward. Previously, conversion to Weather Based control came with a $2,000-3,000 per controller capital cost for the hardware, then a $20 per month communication fee. WeatherMatic is offering the upgrade to their hardware included in their monthly fee which ranges from only $40-$50 per month. And for this fee, they guarantee lifetime warranty and hardware upgrades as long as the service is maintained.
For a small increase in the monthly fee, you will never have to replace your irrigation controller technology. NEVER!
Similar to Rainbird's IQ System, Weathermatic Smartlink makes automatic daily adjustments based on weather. It also provides cellular connection of the remote controller, providing the ability to program and monitor from our office or a smartphone or tablet in the field.
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Did you know that the average price for water in the Portland Metro area has doubled in the past 6 years? The reason for the differing rates varies but the point we want to make is to prepare for annual increases greater than the overall inflation as that has been the pattern for the past 7 years and will likely continue.
As water rates rise, conservation projects make more and more financial sense. Whether you want to "save the world" by conserving water, or not, all will agree that high ROI conservation projects are a "no brainer".
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Technology is rapidly changing and the impact on your and our property is benefiting from each advancement. Irrigation control is one of the many parts of landscape management that is improving with technology advances. Historically, each irrigation system is controlled with a site controller. In the early days, these were simple mechanical timeclocks. As electronic advances unfolded, they became more sophisticated, improving irrigation control and water conservation. The challenge has always been that the "do what you tell them" and if you guess wrong (because you believed the weather forecast) you irrigated wrong.
For over 20 years, remote irrigation control has been in place, but it has been complicated and expensive. For the past 6-7 years, the technology has become increasingly cheaper and more effective. We began offering remote irrigation control in 2008 and that technology has continued to develop and improve. We have also been monitoring other manufacturers products and operate several others that we have inherited when taking over the maintenance of new properties.
Each of these new water management products is based on monitoring and adjusting daily irrigation based on the ever changing weather and associated irrigation need. The problem has been with getting the connection between the remote on-site irrigation controller to the central control computer in the irrigation managers office and ideally on their phone. New advances have finally been made to make this easy and affordable. It is like going from a pager to a smart phone. We can now control your irrigation from anywhere and adjust as needed regardless of time and location.
As mentioned last fall, several from our staff attended the Irrigation Association annual tradeshow and conference annually where they evaluated the newest water management products. We have continued to research and train our staff on these new products and are now promoting the Weathermatic Smartlink System subscription-based service.
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