We’re helping shrink the education funding gap by donating $213 million in SmartControllers™ to schools all across America. You can help by spreading the message.
Unified Sports is an inclusive sports program that combines a proportionate number of Special Olympics Utah athletes (individuals with intellectual disabilities) and partners (individuals without intellectual disabilities) on teams for training and competition. Teammates are similar in age and ability to create meaningful involvement in the game and build friendships that extend beyond the game.
In a partnership that began last year, Davis School District and the Davis Education Foundation are proud to work closely with First Lady Abby Cox and her “Show Up” initiative, which includes expanding the Unified Sports Program in Utah schools.
“This program has been extremely successful in building friendships and fostering inclusion for all students involved.Not only do they cheer each other on when competing, they also create bonds that extend beyond the field. The joy and excitement from the players, parents, and everyone who watches at these tournaments is like nothing else I’ve seen – it’s truly amazing.” said Jodi Lunt, Executive Director of Davis Education Foundation.
The soccer tournament was held on Thursday, September 22, at the Legacy Events Center soccer field. An opening ceremony included a parade of athletes and remarks from a member of the superintendency and tournament sponsor Smart Rain.
The Smart Rain for Smart Kids Foundation was proud to be a sponsor for this event and help make this tournament possible.
“Smart Rain is not only committed to an environmentally green school ground, but also to the integration and success of every student, regardless of their ability.” said Smart Rain Foundation Director Julie Larsen.
About Special Olympics Utah Unified Sports
The program was created as a partnership between Utah High School Activities Association and Special Olympics Utah to provide schools the opportunity to participate in interscholastic co-ed Unified Sports: soccer, basketball, and track & field. The Unified Sports philosophy includes social inclusion, meaningful involvement of all teammates, playing together, and respecting teammates and others on and off the field of play.
With a three-year revenue growth of 573%, Smart Rain was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the US.
Seven million businesses are considered for the 2022 Inc. 5000 list and those that are ranked are within the top .07% of the fastest-growing private companies nationwide. Well-known companies, including Microsoft, Oracle, Patagonia and Zappos.com, have all previously been recognized on the Inc. 5000 list.
Following their 2021 Inc. 500 listing, this prestigious award reflects more than a decade of Smart Rain's commitment to developing new technologies for water conservation strategies and water management solutions.
Founder Rudy Larsen credits his team for believing in the product and having an “all in” mentality during one of the company's most pivotal decisions back in 2019. That was the year Smart Rain acquired Weather Reach and began integrating the two dynamic technologies. The integration led to the development of unique products that would catapult the success of the business that is being celebrated today.
About Smart Rain
Smart Rain is a technology company founded in 2012 with a mission to reduce overwatering on commercial properties. Smart irrigation systems are the most efficient way to prevent overwatering. Smart Rain’s centralized SmartController™ is one of the most sophisticated proprietary irrigation controllers on the market. More smart irrigation technology is on the horizon, with an ongoing commitment to protecting our planet’s fresh water.
About Inc.
Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. The top 500 companies on the Inc. 5000 are featured in Inc. magazine’s September issue.
August 10th, 2022, Ogden, Utah- During a press conference at Liberty Elementary in Ogden, Utah, Smart Rain announced its Smart Rain for Smart Kids campaign.
Attended by community members, Ogden school district staff, Superintendent Luke Rassmussen, and various press agencies—there was an energy of excitement for the opportunities that will become available through Smart Rain's donation of over 200 million dollars in irrigation technology to 100,000 schools across America.
The Smart Rain Foundation Director, Julie Larsen, led the conference by speaking of the foundation's bold initiative to help not one but two pressing issues—education funding and water conservation.
Julie mentioned, "The reason we're giving it is because we care about one of our most precious resources—our kids. Another precious resource is, of course, water."
Ogden is one of many participating school districts across the country that will receive smart irrigation controllers to provide 24/7 water management for school properties. It's estimated this will save schools up to $7,569 per year on their water bill. The donation includes working with schools to set up a plan where those savings go right back where it's needed most—the classrooms. Julie continued, "that's not just one year; that's every year..."
"We will be well ahead of the game when water restrictions take place."
Ogden Superintendent Luke Rasmussen
Next, Ogden Superintendent Luke Rasmussen took the opportunity to thank the Smart Rain Foundation for the generous donation and for helping the newly built school achieve a more environmentally-conscious campus. Rassmussen then remarked, "We will be well ahead of the game when water restrictions take place," acknowledging the severe drought conditions the state of Utah is currently experiencing.
Next to speak was the president of Smart Rain, Dan Hymas, who reiterated, "We are passionate about a few things; one of those, of course, is water conservation; another thing we are passionate about is the future and the education of the children in our communities."
Dan then proceeded to present the Ogden school district with an additional donation of $10,000, which came as a surprise and was immensely appreciated.
The event was held on an overcast morning with rain forecasted. Ending just as raindrops began to fall, the school facility managers were alerted by the smart irrigation controller that the forecasted rain suspended the school's scheduled watering, doing precisely what it was designed to do—conserve water and save (Liberty Elementary School) money.
Smart Rain is a smart irrigation technology company. We're also a charitable organization focused on improving lives through wise water consumption and conservation. We truly believe in saving water. Water conservation means saving money, and who doesn't want some extra cash in their pocket? This summer, we're creating an initiative for greener landscapes and greenbacks for those who matter most to us: children. The Smart Rain Foundation's first initiative is aimed at helping kids succeed in education.
The Problem:
The United States has a 150 billion-dollar funding gap for education. As a result, kids are going hungry over the weekend, and our young people are suffering from a mental health crisis. Suicide rates are on the rise, and even our teachers are struggling with anxiety and mental health issues.
Smart Rain Has a Solution for this Problem: Smart Rain for Smart Kids™
We are committed to helping a hundred thousand schools, and we will donate 213 million dollars to schools that will help schools save water and give more money back to kids.
Our donation to schools will come in the form of smart irrigation controllers. These controllers will provide 24/7 water management for school properties. They can monitor environmental conditions and ensure grass and landscaping receive the right amount of water each day. Our commercial smart irrigation systems allow schools to keep their property green while saving money and conserving water.
We estimate that each controller will save schools $5,700 on average per year on their water bill. Our hope is that schools will use the funds from those savings to help teachers and students. As part of our donation, we work with schools to set up a plan where districts will send those savings right back to the classroom.
Unlike a one-time monetary donation, a smart irrigation controller donation will provide savings that districts can reallocate to students and teachers year after year. It truly is a gift that will keep on giving.
What Can I Do to Be Part of the Solution?
All we ask is that you share this message. Get the word out to teachers, school administrators, and district officials so that they can take advantage of this remarkable opportunity. Visit our Smart Rain Smart Kids™ campaign page on our website to get more information that you can share: https://smartrain.net/foundation/smart-kids/
Happy July and Happy Smart Irrigation Month! The Irrigation Association created Smart Irrigation Month to increase awareness of the benefits of innovative irrigation technologies, products, and services. Today, one of the primary examples of water waste is sprinkler systems and other forms of landscape irrigation systems.
This month, Smart Rain wants to help you and your business take steps to reduce water waste every day.
12 Ways to Celebrate Smart Irrigation Month
1. Launch a Campaign to Raise Awareness of Smart Irrigation
You might run an online campaign on your company's website or a physical campaign involving posters, speeches, etc. Your goal should be to let your voice be heard regarding the benefits of smart irrigation.
2. Share the Steps You’re Taking to Conserve Water On Social Media
Whether through a post or a video, share how you’re making a difference in how you water.
3. Learn About Water Conservatio
Read more about the importance of water conservation and different actionable items you can take. This blog post is a great resource.
4. Install Low-Flow Plumbing
Although this isn’t directly tied to irrigation, this is a great way to save water. By upgrading from a 3.5-gallon toilet to a low-flow 1.6-gallon toilet, you could conserve around 13,000 gallons of water or more a year.
5. Install a Smart Irrigation Controller
An AI-powered controller that automates when and how much you water your property can save you thousands of gallons of water (and thousands of dollars) every year. Contact us to learn more.
6. Install A Smart Sensor
Smart Sensors can detect moisture, rain, and water flow and adjust your sprinkler cycles accordingly. Contact us to learn more.
7. Adjust Your Landscaping
You can still have water-wise and lush landscaping. Water- and budget-friendly landscape options are available. For example, you can plant native plants in your area that are drought-resistant or require little water. It's also possible to choose a grass that thrives on less water.
8. Water Early in The AM or Late in The PM
Watering in the heat of the day can cause you to lose a tremendous amount of water due to evaporation.
9. Collect Rain Water to Use for Watering Later
Every state has its own rainwater collection laws. So if you're planning to harvest rainwater, you should familiarize yourself with your state's laws and regulations.
10. Learn About The Capabilities of the Smart Rain Irrigation Controller
Visit this page on our site to learn about the key features of our Smart Rain Controller. Which is your favorite?
11. Help Your Local Schools Save Water
Talk to teachers, administrators, and district representatives about the Smart Rain for Smart Kids initiative. With this program, we are donating 213 million dollars worth of smart controllers to schools across the country. The water bill savings that result from this campaign go right back into the classroom.
Learn how their Smart Irrigation Controller can specifically help your property and get an estimate of the amount of water/money they can save you.
Dialing in your property’s water use can feel like a lot of guesswork. Water too little, and your lawn has brown, dead patches that are hard to revive. But, on the other hand, water too much, and you unnecessarily waste precious water and funds.
However, did you know that you can water just the right amount with Smart Rain’s AI SmartWeather™ system?
This blog will delve into how the SmartWeather™ feature works and how it has saved properties hundreds in gallons and dollars.
What Is SmartWeather™ and How Does It Work?
With over 20 years of field testing, Smart Rain's proprietary evapotranspiration (ET) smart formula is our secret sauce in our SmartWeather™ cloud-based software that ensures you get the proper amount of water on your landscape. Evapotranspiration is water evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and transpiration from plants.
The software uses localized ET and predictive weather data to calculate exactly when—and how much—to water. Smart Rain can get the most accurate information to know how much moisture your landscape needs by combining these two data points.
SmartWeather™ can also get as granular as a watering zone. Did one section of your property lose less water due to evapotranspiration? No worries! Smart Rain’s system will adjust the amount of water given to that specific area so that it’s getting exactly what it needs!
In addition, Smart Rain provides additional weather data and features, including:
Hourly weather updates:
Predictive weather monitoring
Weather validations
Predictive environmental interrupts:
Rain and rain percentages
Wind speed
How Do I Use SmartWeather™?
After installing the Smart Rain system, the SmartWeather™ feature runs independently—no need for manual tweaking and adjusting. Property owners can view weather, ET, and water savings data from their phones or other smart devices.
SmartWeather™ Success Story
One of our Smart Rain clients, Brandon Wilde, recently saw significant success with the SmartWeather™ feature. As the owner of a 50-acre Senior Living Life Care Community in Evans, Georgia, Wilde knew it needed to cut back on water spending. Before Smart Rain, the property averaged over 13 million gallons of water per year, spending over $30K.
After one year of using Smart Rain’s technology, Wilde saved $6,844 on water and $2,400 on labor. In addition, the property also saved 3,028,000 gallons of water. Because of SmartWeather™ technology accurately measuring rainfall and soil moisture, there was a two week period when the property did not need irrigation water. The result was a substantial cost savings, but still kept the landscape green and healthy.
Every year, K-12 schools are underfunded by $150 billion (1). This lack of funding has far-reaching effects on overall performance, educators' well-being, and students' welfare.
Results of Underfunding: It's In The Numbers
Effects of Underfunding on Performance
Underfunded schools have fewer music, art, gym, foreign language, and social studies teachers (2)
An analysis of education funding during the Great Recession in 2018 found that a 10% reduction in school spending reduced National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores in math and reading. Furthermore, the study found that students exposed to a 10% reduction in spending during high school saw their graduation rates decline by 2 to 3 percentage points. (3)
Effects of Underfunding on Educator Well-Being
61% of educators are "always" or "often" stressed. (4)
Staff members in underfunded schools have greater student "loads," or the number of students in the district per teacher. (2)
The National Education Association reports that teachers earn 4.5 percent less than they did ten years ago. The Economic Policy Institute reports that public school teachers make 17 percent less than their peers. (5,6)
Effects of Underfunding on Student Welfare
17 million students go hungry every year (7)
Schools with limited funding are less able to support students experiencing financial hardship with breakfast, lunch, and weekend food "backpack" programs.
3,703 suicide attempts per day by 9th-12th graders (8)
Schools with limited funding cannot support students with mental and emotional support programs.
How Smart Rain is Helping
With the education funding crisis, the big question is…where will the money come from to address this? What if the money schools spent on landscape irrigation ended up back in the classroom? With this thought in mind, Smart Rain is donating $213,000,000 in smart irrigation controllers to schools across America.
With each controller, Smart Rain is going to save each school $7,569, on average, per year, which districts can reallocate back to the kids to improve their education. Unlike a one-time donation, this is a gift that can truly keep on giving.
(1) The Century Foundation, tcf.org, 2020
(2) New Jersey Policy Perspective, njpp.org, 2021
(3) National Bureau of Economic Research, nber.org, 2018
(4) American Federation of Teachers, aft.org, 2017
(5) National Education Association, nea.org, 2020
(6) Economic Policy Institute, epi.org, 2016
(7) Feeding America, feedingamerica.org, 2020
(8) The Parent Resource Program, The Jason Foundation, prp.jasonfoundation.com
More than 30 million American school children are deprived of the resources they need to succeed in the classroom. The federal government underfunds K-12 public schools by nearly $150 billion annually, according to a study released in 2020 by The Century Foundation (TCF).
Where Are the Largest Funding Gaps Per Student?
Zeroscaping involves replacing most of your property’s plant life with gravel and dirt.
Southwest and southeast states have the most significant funding gaps per pupil.
The biggest funding gap per pupil is in Arizona ($7,020), followed by Nevada ($6,693) and California ($6,089).
California, Texas, and Florida have aggregate gaps exceeding $10 billion. Their total enrollment exceeds 14 million.
Following the Great Recession, the government cut public education funding significantly in many states with the most significant funding gaps.
Following the Great Recession, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Florida, and Arizona implemented the most extensive state-wide cuts to public education. These four states rank among the ten worst for funding gaps per student.
Based on 2016 reading and math assessments for grades three and four, TCF's national cost model estimated what it would cost per pupil for each school district to reach national average outcomes. The study accounted for varied geographic contexts and schools serving different student populations. (e.g., high-poverty districts must spend more to achieve the same results.)
Then, TCF compared the 2020 cost targets with the most recent available district-level spending data (2017). Districts where 2020 cost estimates exceeded 2017 spending had a "funding gap" (7,224 nationwide). Conversely, those districts with 2020 cost estimates less than 2017 actual spending do not have a funding gap (5,8065 districts nationwide).
Based on the district's 2017 enrollment, TCF calculated the total funding gap for a given school district by multiplying the per-pupil gap by the school district's funding gap.
Smart Rain's Initiative to Combat School Underfunding
Tackling this issue is no easy task. Many have debated where the funds should come from to address this deficit. One potential option is to redirect the dollars spent on landscape watering at schools and districts to the students and teachers.
In a given month, a single school can use millions of gallons of water, and thousands of dollars on their water bill.
This year, with their Smart Rain for Smart Kids™ initiative, Smart Rain is committed to helping 100,000 schools nationwide to install free smart irrigation SmartController™. We anticipate this resulting in a 30%+ water bill cut every year. On average, this will result in $7.5K in savings that can be re-allocated to the classroom.
Follow Smart Rain on social media to stay up to date with the Smart Rain for Smart Kids™ Program.
Are you an educator or district level official? Get a demo to see if your school is a good fit for a free smart irrigation system.
This summer, millions of commercial property owners will face the reality of some of the most severe water restrictions in history. Many cities in the western U.S. are limiting outdoor watering to 1 day a week or less.
To combat this, many property owners and sustainability directors are taking drastic measures to revamp their grounds with drought-resistant landscaping options.
In this post, we’ll examine various drought-resistant landscape options and their pros and cons. Then, we’ll reveal a surprising alternative that can save just as much money and water without sacrificing green lawns or plants!
Zeroscaping
Zeroscaping involves replacing most of your property’s plant life with gravel and dirt.
Pros:
Easier maintenance than a traditional landscape with a lawn, trees, shrubbery, and flowers.
Cons:
Lacks design and planning
Creates a barren, sterile landscape of gravel and maybe a boulder or a palm tree or cactus.
Overuse of gravel can increase the temperature around plants, resulting in even more water use.
Gravel heats the surrounding area by worsening the “heat island effect” created by asphalt and concrete.
Gravel does not stop weeds.
Decomposed granite used in zeroscapes doesn’t allow enough nutrients to sustain the complex micro-biology necessary to make healthy soil.
Xeriscaping
Xeriscape is a landscape design that uses low-water-use or drought-tolerant plants that require little to no supplemental irrigation. In a xeriscape, you replace verdant lawns with drought-tolerant native plants, cacti, succulents, ground covers, mulch, sand, soil, rocks, gravel, pebbles, footpaths, pavers, patios, and fire pits.
Pros:
Promotes a cooler, less stark environment than a zeroscape.
Decreases the amount of time needed for landscaping work by you over the long haul.
Cuts back significantly on your water bill and water consumption
Cons:
The amount of work needed in the early stages of your landscape installation will be significant
Can cost you more money than you will recoup by years of less water use.
Your property will have a much more sparse aesthetic than it probably had before
The lack of “green, green grass” may reduce your property’s curb appeal
Doesn’t support native ecosystems.
Hardscaping
Hardscapes are non-living landscape features (like stone patios, gravel paths, and wood decks).
Pros:
Walkways reduce the chance of trip and fall accidents caused by uneven ground.
Paths demonstrate your company’s commitment to accessibility for all employees, clients, and visitors.
Easier maintenance than a traditional landscape with a lawn, trees, shrubbery, and flowers.
Cuts back significantly on your water bill and water consumption
Cons:
Creates a barren, sterile landscape
Stone and gravel heat the surrounding area by worsening the “heat island effect” created by asphalt and concrete.
Less moisture retention for the soil underneath
Installation and material costs can get pricy.
Artificial Grass
Artificial grass is a surface made from synthetic fibers that mimic natural grass. It is primarily used in arenas where the grass is typically needed for sports. However, it is also being used on residential lawns and commercial properties.
Pros:
Doesn’t need fertilizer, or mowing.
Modern artificial grass often looks as good as natural grass.
Cons:
Smothers the living soil beneath it
The manufacturing process of this petroleum-based product generates waste and pollution. Even though it is often made with recycled materials, it is not biodegradable. As a result, after a long life of 15 to 25 years, it will ultimately end up in a landfill.
Direct sunlight causes it to feel extremely hot.
Requires water use to keep it cool.
A Smarter Alternative: AI-Powered Irrigation Systems
Although each of the above provides some level of water savings, each comes with significant disadvantages and eliminates the cool, natural beauty of a green landscape.
But what if there was a way to keep your verdant lawn, bushes, trees, and flowers and cut back significantly on water costs and consumption?
There is!
Smart Rain’s AI-powered irrigation system guarantees you’ll save a minimum of 20% on your water usage. This is how much water the average xeriscape saves. However, with Smart Rain, you can have the same savings without having to redo your landscape.
Here are some of the pros of the Smart Rain System:
Keep your green lawn, trees, and bushes
Save 20-50% on your water consumption
Save millions of dollars on your utility bill and billions on your water consumption
Pay an affordable monthly subscription for ongoing savings
Ready to Water Less and Keep Your Property Green? Chat with One of Our Smart Irrigation Experts to See How Much You Can Save!
Did you know that the typical family of four uses about 12,000 gallons of water per month? Leaky faucets and toilets and other water-gobbling problems and habits can add up to hundreds or even thousands of gallons more. The good news? Many common water wasters can be fixed quickly and inexpensively. Here’s what to look out for:
Little leaks. A dripping faucet can send gallons of water down the drain every day. It’s estimated that 10 percent of all homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day! Make sure your faucets don’t drip.
Inefficient showerheads. Installing new, water-saving showerheads can have a big impact on your water usage and your bill.
Long showers. Reducing your shower time by just a few minutes each day can save hundreds of gallons per month. Also, avoid running the water the entire time you’re brushing your teeth.
Problem toilets. Older toilets can use a lot more water than newer models. Toilets manufactured prior to 1993 can use two to six gallons more per flush than toilets being manufactured today. Most toilets being made today use only 1.6 gallons per flush. Leaks can be another issue. Take a few minutes to inspect each toilet in your home; you can typically hear and see evidence of leaks. Speaking of toilets, don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket. That wastes up to 5 gallons per flush.
Using your hose as a broom. Using the garden hose to wash down sidewalks and driveways, instead of using a broom, can use more than 10 gallons of water each minute!
Hand washing dishes. You can use dozens of gallons of water per load when you wash dishes by hand versus as little as four gallons of water with a newer dishwasher. That’s because most people wash dishes with running water. If you are washing dishes by hand, fill your sink with water and dish soap and wash your dishes. Run the faucet only to briefly rinse the dishes.
Landscaping with plants and trees that use a lot of water. One-third of residential water use goes toward watering the lawn and garden. Native plants and drought-resistant lawn varieties require less water. Many types of plants that are drought-resistant and require little or no water during the summer months are actually quite beautiful, and some produce stunning flowers.
Washing your vehicle at home. Washing a car at home can use a lot of water, especially if you run the hose the entire time. Consider getting your car cleaned at the car wash.
