CHALLENGE
In drought-prone areas, using fresh, clean water to create a green yard may not be the wisest use of a scarce resource. We needed an open source solution that made use of “greywater” (household waste water from dishwashing, laundry, and bathing) as an irrigation source and combine it with a system that takes the weather into account to prevent waste.
BIG IDEA
Make every last drop count. Tapping into open source weather information that accounts for evapotranspiration (how plants emit moisture) provides a more intelligent way to water our lawns.
SOLUTION
Quality Process developed Open Source Rain, an app that transformed the iPad into a greywater control center using off-the-shelf components, including a router that was converted into a computer running Linux. This enabled access to a large library of open source weather data that could be combined with a greywater irrigation systems to manage the watering of lawns in climate-sensitive areas. Using high technology and plant science we found a way to preserve resources, lower our water bills, and create welcoming, relaxing outdoor environments.
EXAMPLES
