This $250 wifi sprinkler can cut lawn water use 30%

Rachio, a Denver-based start-up, has been selling a "smart sprinkler" for the last year. The device takes the place of a traditional control box on an automated home sprinkler system. It hooks the system up to the Internet -- meaning that you can control it from a smartphone.

It also means the sprinkler system can now check the weather. If it's going to rain or has rained recently, the system holds off on watering. It also Sprinkler System Installation automatically adjusts the watering times for each season. And it waters intermittently to allow for maximum absorption -- which also encourages the grass to grow deeper roots and become more drought-resistant. These things alone can cut lawn water use by 30%, according to the company -- no small amount when at least eight Western states are in extreme drought, or worse.

Related: Can these gates protect NYC from the next flood?

The company was formed afte r Chris Klein and Franz Garsombke -- two software engineers working for a real estate intelligence firm -- went through the last drought in Colorado in 2012. When fall came and the dryness subsided, the two noticed that sprinklers in the area were still running, even though it was raining.

"We figured there had Sprinkler System Installation to be a better way," said Klein.

So the pair started writing code and entered a contest run by the Colorado Innovation Network -- a consortium of businesses, governments and universities that promotes economic development in the state. They won $50,000, quit their jobs, and began building the company. Now they have 18 employees, and sales are on track to quadruple from last year, although Klein would not disclose revenue numbers or units sold.

The hardware mounts in your home, the software is accessible online.

The device itself looks like a router, and Klein said most people can install it in 20 minutes. (If you still can't, most likely a gardener or electrician can.)

The entire thing -- plastic, electronics, packaging -- is made in Colorado. Klein said it would probably be cheaper to make it abroad, but the company is convinced that U.S. manufacturing costs will fall as more companies decide to build stuff here -- and they want to be part of the force driving that change.

It's compatible with Nest and other smart home systems, and many areas experiencing drought -- including Los Angeles, Fresno and the Santa http://www.hgtv.com/design/topics/landscaping Clara Valley -- subsidize the $250 retail price, said Klein.

Of course California is the most populous state seeing a historic drought, and Klein said roughly a third o f his sales are in that state, up from about a quarter last year.

Rachio isn't the only company to make these devices -- competitors include Blossom and Skydrop.



CNNMoney (New York) First published May 13, 2015: 6:38 AM ET

http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/13/technology/rachio-sprinkler-water/index.html

Sod Solutions, Inc. Launches Lawnifi, A Fertilizer for Homeowners

CHARLESTON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lawnifi(TM),

a division of Sod

Solutions, Inc., has launched a fertilizer brand developed

specifically for the homeowner. A family of products, Lawnifi is

designed to give lawns the nutrients needed for year-round health.

Lawnifi features Catalyst Absorption TechnologyTM, a patented

manufacturing process that reduces the particle size of fertilizer to

increase plant available nutrients and uptake. This process has been

successfully used commercially on sod farms and general agriculture

through Sod Solutions' Amp

Agronomy line of products, and is now being introduced for home lawn

and landscape use.



"Catalyst Absorption Technology reduces the amount of fertilizer needed

for successful plant uptake," said Drew Wagner, chief technology officer

of So d Solutions, Inc. "For instance, if plant roots were the size of a

garden hose, then traditional granular fertilizer would be equivalent to

a beach ball and must be broken down by the plant or rainfall prior to

being used. Traditional fertilizer often locks up in the soil and is

never absorbed by the plant. Lawnifi fertilizer is like a grain of sand

and is easily absorbed by the plant with no waste."

"The technology and manufacturing process behind http://www.acehardware.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=2602623 Lawnifi is what sets it

apart," continues Wagner. "We are introducing nanotechnology to the

retail lawn and garden space and have seen amazing results. Lawnifi

requires less fertilizer, which is not only more efficient for plants,

but also better for the environment."

The Lawnifi family includes t hree distinct products:

Grow

was developed for newly installed sod, seed and plants and winterizing

lawns in the late fall.

Maintain

is perfect for spring, summer and early fall feeding to keep lawns

looking their best year-round.

Recover,

a nutrient rich formulation, was developed for regrowth and recovery

of stressed turf and foliage.

Each 32-ounce bottle of Lawnifi covers 5,000 square feet and will feed

the lawn or plants for about a month. Currently, Lawnifi is being sold

through Amazon.com

and will be available through select Sod Solutions licensed sod farms

and authorized distributors later this spring.

About Lawnifi



Sod Solutions, Inc., an international turfgrass research and development

company incorporated in 1994, is headquartered in Charleston, South

Carolina. Through relationships with universities and breeders, Sod

Solutionshas developed a portfolio of turfgrass

varieties in the St. Augustine, bermudagrass, zoysia, centipede and

cool season families. In partnership with GCO, the creator of Amp

Agronomy, Lawnifi was launched to provide a solution for the homeowner.

For more information, visit www.lawnifi.com.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170510005521/en/Sod-Solutions-Launches-Lawnifi-Fertilizer-Homeowne rs

Lawns - Avocados, kittens and lawns: consequences of the California drought crisis - Pictures

Thanks to the drought, there are more rattlesnakes around than usual. And to make matters worse, they're now snaking their way into residential neighborhoods and California backyards where small children play.

A 2-year-old girl, named Ishneed Kaur, was bitten by a rattlesnake, June 9, 2015, while playing in her backyard in Pittsburg, California. She had to be airlifted to Children's Hospital in Oakland for immediate treatment.



That same week, a 4-year-old boy was bitten after stepping on a baby rattlesnake coiled on a bike trail in Folsom, California. When https://www.dbg.org/gardening his ankle started to swell and turn purple as a result, the child's mother, Jacklyn Caramazza, jumped into action and sucked the venom from his Sprinkler System Installation Greenville wound; a dangerous move, which may have saved the boy's life, but most experts don't recommend.

http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/californias-epic-drought-fallout-and-consequences/15/

Snap closes at $17, a 4.9% drop from opening price, as it sinks to its IPO price amid investor concerns ...

Techmeme: Snap closes at $17, a 4.9% drop from opening price, as it sinks to its IPO price amid investor concerns about future growth and profit (Noel Randewich/Reuters)

About This Page

This is a Techmeme archive page.It shows https://www.martindale.com/ how the site appeared at 11:30 PM ET, June 15, 2017.

The most current version of the site as always is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx5hfLp3Vqc our home page.To view an earlier snapshot click hereand then modify the date indicated.





From MediagazerHollywood Reporter:Alex Jones releases secretly recorded audio of his pre-interview conversation with Megan Kelly ahead of official airing Sunday

BuzzFeed:How some hyperpartisan websites use vitriol to fuel donations to political PACs, and how both the sites and PACs have ties to a Washington, DC, lawyer

Ricardo Bilton / Nieman Lab:A month after the death of Mexican journalist Javier Valdez C?rdenas, a group of publications and organizations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx5hfLp3Vqc are campaigning for journalists' protection

http://www.techmeme.com/170615/p17

Food Irrigated With Fracking Water May Require Labels In California

A new bill proposed in California would require all produceirrigated withfracking wastewaterto come withwarning http://www.homedepot.com/b/Outdoors-Garden-Center-Landscaping/N-5yc1vZbx51 labels.

The bill, which Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D)introduced on Monday, would require any crops grown with water that had previously been injected into rock formations to free oil and gas reserves and sold to consumers in the state to be labeled. The warning would read, "Produced using recycled or treated Sprinkler System oil-field wastewater."

"Consumers have a basic right to make informed decisions when it comes to the type of food that ends Sprinkler System Installation Richardson up on the family dinner table," Gatto said in a press release from his office. "Labeling food that has been irrigated with potentially harmful or carcinogenic chemicals, such as those in recycled fracking water, is the right thing to do."

Federal officials, environmentalists and the petroleum industry remain intensely divided on how safe fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is. Debates over fracking largely revolve around whether the practice contaminates nearby groundwater, but an increase in farmers hydrating their crops with treated, previously injected water purchased from oil companies has aroused new concern.

Areport released last month by the California Council on Science and Technology did not discover strong evidence of dangerous chemicals in the recycled water -- but it also found that state regulators did not have an adequate testing process and that there was"not any control in place to prevent [contamination] from happening."

It's a risk Gatto believes people should be informed of.

"No one expects their lettuce to contain heavy chemicals from fr acking wastewater," he said. "Studies show a high possibility that recycled oil-field wastewater may still contain dangerous chemicals, even after treatment."

Least Environmental Senators



Least Environmental Senators

2012 LCV Scorecard: Lowest Scores In The Senate

The following 17 senators all scored under 10 in the League of Conservation Voters' 2012 National Environmental Scorecard.

The senators' scores are based on 14 votes on bills related to offshore drilling, Gulf restoration, oil subsidies, power plant air pollution and other environmental topics.

While over a dozen senators received fewer than 10 points, 37 senators received over 90 points on LCV's 100-point scale.

(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fracking-water-food-label-bill-california_us_55d38099e4b07addcb44544a

John Deere Landscapes Unveils New Name as SiteOne Landscape Supply

ALPHARETTA, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--John Deere Landscapes today unveiled its new name and logo as SiteOne

Landscape Supply, effective October 19. The new brand represents the

next step for SiteOne as an independent company after its acquisition by

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in December 2013. With over 460 locations in

the U.S. and Canada, SiteOne is the largest wholesale distributor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjreVlmEbis of

landscape supplies for green industry professionals in North America,

including irrigation supplies, fertilizer and control products,

landscape accessories, nursery goods, hardscapes, and outdoor lighting,

along with a broad array of services designed to help green industry

professionals operate and grow their businesses. SiteOne will formally

introduce customers to the new brand at the GIE+EXPO in Louisville,

Kentucky.

"As a market leader, our vision is to make our customers the most

successful landscaping professionals in the green industry--and that's

what our new brand represents," said Doug Black, SiteOne's chief

executive officer. "We have over 2,500 passionate and knowledgeable

associates across North America, all focused on the success of our

customers. The new brand reflects our unique position as the only

national full-line provider of landscaping products http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=sprinklers which, along with

the deep knowledge and state-of-the-art solutions that we offer, will

form our foundation for future growth."



SiteOne's tagline, "Stronger Together" defines its partnerships with

customers, associates, suppliers and communities, and its commitment to

excellence in product offerings and service delivery. "By working

together with our suppliers and customers we can achieve great things

for all stakeholders," said https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjreVlmEbis Black.



The rebranding effort began shortly after the purchase of John Deere

Landscapes by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. SiteOne performed an extensive

18-month branding process, which included gathering input from

associates, suppliers, cu stomers and key stakeholders. The brand roll

out will be completed by December. "We have an exciting new look, with

the same exceptional associates who will continue to deliver the high

quality products and services our customers know and trust," Black said.

About SiteOne Landscape Supply LLC

SiteOne Landscape Supply

(formerly John Deere Landscapes) is North America's leading wholesale

distributor of landscape supplies for green industry professionals

including irrigation supplies, fertilizer and control products,

landscape accessories, nursery goods, hardscapes, and outdoor lighting,

along with a broad array of services designed to help green industry

professionals operate and grow their businesses. With over 460 locations

in the U.S. and Canada, the broadest product and service offerings, and

over 2,500 knowledgeable associates, SiteOne is committed to making its

customers the most successful landscape professionals in the green

industry.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150814005051/en/John-Deere-Landscapes-Unveils-SiteOne-Landscape-Supply

Coronal Energy, Powered by Panasonic, and Dominion Energy Expand Virginias Solar Energy Capacity

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Coronal

Energy, powered by Panasonic, a leading independent power producer

(IPP) and provider of turnkey renewable energy solutions, and Dominion

Energy, one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of

energy, are expanding Virginia's solar energy capacity by developing a

solar facility in Essex County that will add clean, reliable, and

affordable solar energy to the local power grid, introduce high-quality

jobs to the local economy, and provide tax revenue to the county and

state. This 174-acre, 20MW solar development project in Dunnsville will

generate enough electricity to power 5,000 single-family homes in

Virginia annually.



As one of the largest solar projects in the state, the Essex Solar

Center is evidence of both companies' commitment to sustainably

strengthen the solar industry in Virginia. It builds on

Charlottesville-based Coronal Energy's history of Virginia-sited

projects and was made possible through the state's recently implemented

permit by rule (PBR) process through the Virginia Department of

Environmental Quality (DEQ). This important regulatory framework

supports efficient renewable energy infrastructure initiatives while

ensuring the project will not impact the county's natural resources

during its lifecycle.

The E ssex Solar Center will also help Dominion Energy expand its

renewable energy portfolio. The energy will be procured by Dominion

Energy via a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) that enables the

company to purchase the power generated by the solar facility for the

benefit of its customers, while Coronal Energy continues to own and

operate the facility upon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWoSWNwtVKA completion.

"The Essex Solar Center is a meaningful project because of the local

partnerships that are bringing it to life," said Kyle West, Vice

President of Real Estate, Coronal Energy(TM). "It epitomizes the results

that solar development at its best can achieve - powering a local

community with clean energy, new jobs and tax revenue by working with

landowners to develop a commercially viable solar facility that

interconnects with a renewables-focused utility."

Katheryn Curtis, senior vice president of Dominion Energy's Power

Delivery Group, said, "At Dominion, we are dedicated to providing

affordable renewable energy options to Virginia residents. Teaming up

with Coronal Energy on the Essex Solar Center allows us to serve our

customers through our PPA arrangement, bring jobs to the county that

will benefit the local economy, and align with the state's vision as

Virginia prioritizes clean energy initiatives."

Two parcels of land comprise the 174-acre solar facility: Approximately

70 acres are owned by the Southside Rappahannock Baptist Association, a

nonprofit organization. The area is the former site of the Rappahannock

Industrial Academy (RIA), a school that operated in the first

half of the 20th century, dedicated to educating the children

of former slaves. Revenue from the land lease will help support the

history and legacy of the historic site. The remaining acreage is owned

by a private landowner, Haile Properties, LLC. Both landowners'

participation in solar development encourages positive economic

development in the county and augments Virginia's broader renewable

energy http://www.homeadvisor.com/task.Electrical-Wiring-or-Panel-Upgrade.39777.html generation and carbon emissions reduction efforts.

"This solar project enables RIA to maintain the property and continue

having a lasting impact on the people of Essex County by providing

services and enhancing opportunities for all the children in the area,"

said James Hill, President, RIA Task Force.

Danny Van Clief, Chief Commercial Officer, Coronal Energy(TM) added, "As a

solar company working in Charlottesville, we're particularly fond of

opportunit ies that arise where we have a local presence. The Essex Solar

Center enhances our sense of community and adds to our experience

developing in-state solar projects, including the similarly sized 20 MW

Woodland Solar Center in Isle of Wight County."

McCarthy Building Companies has been engaged as the engineering,

procurement and construction (EPC) firm responsible for building the

solar facility, which is slated for completion in November 2017. This

project will add an estimated 80 - 100 jobs in the county during the

construction phase, a number that boosts the 2,300 solar jobs Dominion

Energy has created in the state of Virginia and the more than 3,200 jobs

the solar industry brings to the Virginia economy overall.

About Coronal Energy, powered by Panasonic

Coronal Energy, powered by Panasonic, is a leading https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =aWoSWNwtVKA independent power

producer providing turnkey solar energy solutions tailored for diverse

enterprise customers across North America, including utilities,

corporations, and the public sector. It unites the financial strength of

a Fortune Global 500 company (#128) and Panasonic's award-winning

history of solar innovation and sustainability leadership with the

project development, finance, engineering, construction, and asset

management experience of Coronal Energy. The result is smarter solar

that translates to smarter business for customers. The collective

experience of Coronal Energy, powered by Panasonic, includes projects in

40 states totaling 2.3 GW, with more than 3.4 GW of greenfield and

brownfield projects under construction/contract or in development. For

more, please visit CoronalEnergy.com.

Learn more at coronalenergy.com.

About Dominion Energy
Dominion Energy (NYSE:D) is one of the nation's largest producers and

transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 26,200

megawatts of generation, 15,000 miles of natural gas transmission,

gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,600 miles of electric transmission

lines. Dominion Energy operates one of the nation's largest natural gas

storage systems with 1 trillion cubic feet of storage capacity and

serves more than 6 million utility and retail energy customers.

For more information about Dominion Energy, visit the company's website

at www.dominionenergy.com.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170606006133/en/Coronal-Energy-Powered-Panasonic-Dominion-Energy-Expand