Reclaimed Habitat

Yesterday I came across the evapotranspiration factor. As in electronic sensors that can detect the moisture rates in a specific microclimate.

evaporation--the process of liquid water becoming water vapor, including vaporization from water surfaces, land surfaces, and snow fields, but not from leaf surfaces
+
transpiration--process by which water that is absorbed by plants, usually through the roots, is evaporated into the atmosphere from the plant surface, such as leaf pores.
=

evapotranspiration--the sum of evaporation and transpiration.[1]


This is something you want to be aware of when considering how often and how much to water vegetation. Essentially, a robot can measure and predict conditions to prescribe appropriate watering schedules. Building science gets ever closer to computer science and our systems go beyond the building shell and into the landscape. Is it excess? Could it be public art? In our sprinkler case, I think its measured efficiency. It's the sure fire way to success (that was borrowed from business). There are ten good reasons to get rid of this system, and one sustainable solution; native plants.

Get rid of the turf, use mulch and design to the natural setting. If you don't need a permanent irrigation system[2], then sophisticated electronic robots might not even be needed in your 'reclaimed habitat'.

If you are trying to grow food, there are many ways to collect rainwater or greywater to irrigate all site types. Rain cisterns collect roof runoff from the gutters and reduce the amount of storm water flow. Inside, clean plumbing outgoing pipes, with filters, can be used as a non-potable irrigation source.

Sustainable design is simple to me; utilize the resources at hand, as efficiently as possible.


[1: definitions taken from the United States Geological Survey webpage
2: recommended 1-2 years temporary irrigation ]