Cyber-Rain Watering System Helps Homeowners Be 'Green,' Save Money

Here’s a new twist on green technology: a wirelessly-controlled automatic sprinkler system designed to help homeowners save money on their water bills while also helping to preserve the environment.

 

Los Angeles-based Cyber-Rain recently rolled out just such a solution, the Cyber-Rain XCI System. This system is designed to overcome a common problem with irrigation systems, namely that they dispense the same amount of water regardless of season or weather conditions—resulting in wasted water and wasted money.

 

The company claims that the Cyber-Rain system usually pays for itself in less than seven months by saving homeowners 30-70 percent on their landscape water bills. It consists of a wireless controller for 8 zones, a wall-mounted AC adapter, an access point that connects to a computer USB port and software to configure the best watering regime for a homeowner’s unique situation.

 

With the included software, users can set different watering schedules for up to eight different “zones.” The schedule is then automatically modified by the system based on weather forecast data which is updated several times a day. The system includes a built-in clock that automatically adjust for Daylight Savings Time. Cyber-Rain also keeps track of water usage so the homeowner can see how much they’re saving.

 

Most homeowners using traditional irrigation systems spend more than $1,500 per year in water costs for an average of 7,500 gallons of water per month, Wireless News reported. By matching how much water is used to weather conditions, Cyber-Rain’s $295 price tag can be recouped in only a few months.

 

Cyber-Rain, Inc., claims that the price of water has risen 50 percent during the past five years, and based on current consumption rates that price will double during the next five years.

 

“Rapidly escalating water prices and newly enacted legislation is driving the demand for these types of technologies,” the Wireless News report quoted Cyber-Rain CEO Jonathan Niednagel as saying. “The Cyber-Rain XCI controller is designed for homeowners
who want to save money and water with a system that they can easily install and run themselves.”