Irrigation is one of the many facets of a project's design rendered in-house at Design Concepts. While many firms contract out the irrigation systems required for landscape design we feel it is as crucial a component as any and prefer to include it in the overall scope of a project .

In our efforts to promote water and energy conservation in irrigation design we have recently

been encouraging clients to utilize the advanced irrigation technology now available. Irrigation plans that employ central control systems use smart controllers to communicate either with area or on-site weather stations to determine watering timing and need (pictured left: the on-site station at Denver Botanic Gardens). Smart controllers adjusts for heat, rain, freezing conditions, and more. This helps to ensure that watering is

happening only when needed and thus conserves one of the most valuable resources in Colorado (pictured below: smart system rotary nozzles). Central control systems also promote healthier landscape because water needs are so precisely met. These systems are accessible remotely, allowing projects with few maintenance staff to run effective and conservative irrigation without needing to employ or educate a large number of people—saving money, water, and man-hours.

As these green smart systems are used in public spaces an opportunity for public education is created. DC is exploring including interpretive signage explaining weather station and other system components at sites were these types of irrigation systems are in place as well as interactive websites linked to the smart systems in place in the area.

Smart irrigation means water conservation, a cause DC is eager to promote in both project design and public education throughout the design process.

We also talked a little more about this stuff in a previous post.