Design Space Characterization for Meeting Cost and Carbon Reduction Goals
Smart Irrigation Controllers in the Southwestern United States
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19467087 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Michele A Mutchek, Michele Mutchek (Arizona State University, corresponding author), Eric Williams (0000-0002-6352-2928, Arizona State University), Eric D Williams |
| Year | 2010 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 727-739 |
| Publication date | 2010-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Industrial Ecology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1088-1980 • E-ISSN: 1530-9290 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2010.00282.x |
| OpenAlex | W1983952708 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 10 |
Smart irrigation controllers (SICs) can save water by adapting watering schedules to climate and soil conditions. The potential benefit of SICs is particularly high in southwestern U.S. states, where the arid climate makes water scarcer and increases watering needs of landscapes. A number of studies have tested the ability of SICs to save water in residential and small commercial settings. Results generally show overall savings, but there is substantial variability, including cases of increased water use. Though there are many controllers on the market, we argue there is a further need for optimization of design and field performance. To inform the technology development process, we develop a design for environment method, which overlays economic and environmental performance parameters under different operating conditions. This method is applied to characterize design goals for controller price and water savings that SICs must meet to yield life cycle carbon dioxide reductions and economic savings in southwestern U.S. states, accounting for regional variability in electricity and water prices and carbon overhead. Results from applying the model to SICs in the Southwest suggest that some areas are significantly easier to design for. One concept to realize improved design in practice is to build out the controller market in a staged set of niches, starting from a more favorable area then moving toward more challenging conditions
Agricultural engineering · Business · Carbon Footprint · Economics · Electricity · Environmental economics · Environmental resource management · Greenhouse gas · Irrigation · Water use · Computer Science · Engineering · Environmental Science · Urban Stormwater Management Solutions · Water resources management and optimization · Water-Energy-Food Nexus Studies · Ecology
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0.19 |
| Citation span | 2010 - 2025 (16) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |