Smart irrigation saves water
Calgary Sun
August 11, 2007

A smart system designed to cut costs and environmental harm, ExactET is a product combining modern technology with the age-old task of watering the lawn.
Utilizing evapo-transpiration technology, Graham Duffy, CEO of ExactETSystems says ExactET uses real-time weather information to determine whether a home or business' irrigation system should be activated. "We convert existing irrigation systems to weather-based systems so it only turns on when the weather dictates it.

"When it's cool, damp or raining, it won't turn the system on -- and every hour the information is sent from one of our four local weather stations to the unit."

With homebuyers going green in the name of preserving their surroundings, builders and developers are offering products and systems geared towards environmental sustainability.

"Water is becoming more and more of a commodity" Duffy says. "But people water too often, and they overwater."

However, Calgary companies such as Beattie Homes, Qualico Communities and Southcentre Mall are ExactET users to save water, and money.

"Last year Southcentre watered three times a week, and that would have meant watering 62 times," he says.

"This system saved about a million gallons of water -- the average swimming pool is about 25,000 gallons, so that's a lot of water."

According to Bill Beattie, president and CEO of Beattie Homes, using a smart-irrigation system seemed like common sense.

"It makes all of your sprinkler systems much more efficient, it saves a lot of water and it saves a lot of money," he says.

Indeed, according to ExactET, Beattie Homes' head office has saved 201,600 gallons of water annually, cutting water useage my more than 48%, and also saving $1,040 from their annual watering costs.

"It's also the right thing to do," Beattie adds, which is one reason future condominium projects by the builder will feature the irrigation system, as well.

"We are planning to use it in all of our condominium projects from now on, including a 117-unit project in King's Heights, Airdrie, and a 250 unit complex in New Brighton."

Nicole Viave
The Calgary Sun
Saturday, August 11, 2007