AuditorSoft

How thirsty is your lawn?

2009-04-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

This summer many of us will struggle to pick between a not-so-green-lawn vs a not-so-affordable-water-bill.

Before making this choice, how about answering this question: "How thirsty is your lawn?"... How do you know how much to water it if you don't know how much water it needs in the first place?

A good majority of us don't relate to this problem since they are not the one who waters the lawn. It simply is someone else's problem, or is it? Shouldn't we be asking the person in charge to answer the question?

OK. There is a way to do it right. It starts with knowing what causes your lawn to need water. Ever heard of ET? ET is a measure of evaporation (from soil and plant surfaces) and transpiration (from plant tissues). So it can be used to calculate how much water your lawn needs.

Want to know more: What is CIMIS and What is ET?

Later in the week, I'll write more about using ET to find out how thirsty your lawn is!

Cut Water Use or Pay Penalty Charge

2009-04-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

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Contra Costa Water District which serves water to approximately 550,000 people in central and eastern Contra Costa County in Northern California, is starting a Drought Management Program to encourage water conservation.

Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) Blog announced the CCWD's 15% Drought Management Program on April 1st. The program will be in effect as of May 1st, 2009.

KCBS Radio reported that "Residents who use less than a thousand gallons a day, which is about 90 percent of district customers, will only face a higher rate if their water usage increases. But those who already use more than a thousand gallons a day will face the new drought rate of 300 percent if they don't cutback."

You can click here for information and tools that can help cut water use.

Sources:
1. KCBS Radio report on New Water Regulations in Contra Costa
2. San Francisco Chronicle article on Contra Costa Water Officials Move to Cut Water Use
3. NBC article on Another County Hit With Water Restrictions
4. Mercury News article on Contra Costa Water District customers must conserve or pay more

2009-03-22T23:54:00.000-07:00

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California's on going drought is putting pressure on cities.

Los Angeles announced plans to start a water rationing program in May. Others will soon follow.

Without appropriate tools many businesses and residents may find themselves in a situation where they need to chose between a significantly higher water bill versus dried up landscaping.

Powered by AuditorSoft, the Green Leaf Online Water Management Tools provide a water rationing feature that let's irrigation managers cut water where it's less needed.

To see how you can conserve water and keep your landscape irrigation budget under control, you can view water management tools quick tour.

Landscaping Quality Control

2009-03-22T23:37:00.000-07:00

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Declining curb appeal and expensive plant replacements can be prevented by early detection of landscape defects. But consistency in quality inspections is difficult to achieve without a formal quality control process. Historical data tied to well defined inspection areas and preset priorities are required for comparable results.

AuditorSoft offers a highly visual, comprehensive quality control program.

Powered by AuditorSoft, the Green Leaf Online Landscape Quality Control Tools provide a workflow solution to spot and follow-up on problems. Improvements in landscape quality are documented through easy to read tables and charts.

World Water Day - 22nd March 2009

2009-03-20T23:43:00.000-07:00

March 22nd is International World Water Day.

United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day as an international day to celebrate freshwater. Since then each year a specific aspect of freshwater is selected as the theme. This years theme is around "Shared Water - Shared Opportunities".

UNWater reports: "With every country seeking to satisfy its water needs from limited water resources, some foresee a future filled with conflict. But history shows that cooperation, not conflict, is the most common response to transboundary water management issues.

You can read more about World Water Day here: UNWater.

In celebration of World Water Day, we will give away free 12 month subscriptions to our Landscape Water Management software to the first 3 readers who email us *. Please write to info@auditorsoft.com and use the subject line "World Water Day 2009 Promotion".

* Terms and restrictions apply. While quantities last. Not redeemable for cash.

Orange County residents protest proposed 40% water rate increase

2009-03-14T12:53:00.000-07:00

California is in the midst of an increasingly severe water shortage. Water rationing programs, tiered water rates, and other penalty pricing models are becoming more common.

Golden State Water Company, has filed a petition with the California Public Utilities Commission to raise from rates from $47 to $64 by 2010 and $66 by 2012. The proposed increase is approximately 40 percent over three years.

OCRegister reported: "About 75 residents showed up at Placentia City Council Chambers at the first of two public hearings held Wednesday to allow Orange County residents to voice opinions regarding a proposed rate increase by Golden State Water Company."

There is a severe need for solutions that residents can use to reduce water usage. Click here, if you are interested in finding out how you can: conserve water.

Sources:

1. OCRegister.com article.

Water Rationing: How to manage landscape water during one

2009-03-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

How to Manage Landscape Water During Water Rationing

Many HOA board members, homeowners, property managers are asking themselves the same question: "How do I manage my landscape irrigation during water rationing?". What makes them nervous are the steep tiered rates and fines that can put their budget in the tank if they fail to manage the amount of landscape water they use.

What's obvious is the need for water management tools that can show the landscape water managers the way to cutting down their irrigation usage without unnecessarily under watering and killing their landscape assets.

There are logical steps to cutting water use without sacrificing the landscape. The first step is to locate all valve zones and what plants, irrigation heads and other variables are in these zones. These 'valve characteristics' coupled with a smart base schedule will make any capital investment to your system perform optimally. Many customers have invested in new technology only to find they are using more, not less water.

GreenLeaf offers water management solutions which don't require significant capital investment or replacement of irrigation equipment to achieve big savings. Click here to learn more about the GreenLeaf water management program.

"Manage Landscape Water" Discussion Group

2009-03-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

Water Managers are coming together to share ideas in "Manage Landscape Water" Discussion Group

The newly announced Linked In group called "Manage Landscape Water" is attracting water managers who want to exchange ideas and their experiences.

The group lists it's goal as:

"Share best practices, success stories and ideas on methods to manage landscape water. Water usage in landscapes should be managed and not allow it to either be overused running down the sidewalk or under used resulting in damage to the plantscape."

Green Eco Services announced the new group to it's readers this week. If you are interested in joining the group (there is no cost associated) click here: Join "Manage Landscape Water" Discussion Group.

Sources:
1. Green Eco Services blog post

We waste our "cheap" water!

2009-03-03T22:22:00.000-08:00

We all feel the pinch as the cost of a gallon of water steadily raises. What we don't realize is the fact that we waste our "cheap" water.

The Denver Post comments: "One simply cannot find another product whose real value so far exceeds its price - or for that matter, one whose price is often so unrelated to its true cost".

AuditorSoft offers services to reduce the water waste. Click here to request more information on how you can save water.

Sources:
1. Denver Post article "Why cheap water is causing a world crisis"
2. EnvironmentalIndicators article

3 Proven tips that save landscape water - Tip 1

2009-03-01T17:02:00.000-08:00

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Tip 1. Prevent Run-Off!

This is the final posting of a series of 4 posts about saving landscape water. We started from the bottom of the list and worked our way up. Here is tip #1.

Obviously, run-off is wasteful. Water that doesn't reach the root depth of the soil does your plants no good. Run-off robs the soil of nutrients and causes pollution by carrying chemicals to the storm drains.

Run-off occurs when you put more water on the soil than it can absorb. The soil type and slope play a major factor here. Water runs off quicker on clay soil and steeper slopes. Since the amount of water your sprinkler system puts down on your landscape in a minute is fixed, the only thing you can do to prevent run off, in short of changing your sprinklers, is to break the watering cycles into shorter time windows.

You can find a list of tools that can help adjust your watering schedules to prevent run-off. Please subscribe to our blog to be notified when we post the rest of the "3 Proven tips that save landscape water" series.

To sum it all up, make sure you adjust your watering schedules based on changing seasons, soil type, plant type, slope, sprinkler type and most importantly your location.

Tools that can help:

AuditorSoft: offers tools that professional landscapers, irrigation experts, HOA, apartment and other facility managers utilize to save landscape water. You can click here to read more about the solution details at AuditorSoft reseller GreenLeaf.com's web site.

Irrigation Water Management Society: is a non-profit organization committed to promoting the wise and efficient use of water. You can click here to use their online landscape irrigation budget calculators.

3 Proven tips that save landscape water - Tip 2

2009-03-01T16:57:00.000-08:00

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Tip 2. Water to Depth!

When watering landscaping you need to think of getting the water to the roots of your plants. The soil serves as a "reservoir that holds water for your plants". For a healthy landscape you need to get the right amount of water to the root depth, not just to the surface of the soil.

This is obviously tricky. Water for too short of a time and the water will not reach the root depth. Water for too long and the water will simply run off the surface.

You can find a list of tools that can help adjust your watering schedules to water to depth. Please subscribe to our blog to be notified when we post the rest of the "3 Proven tips that save landscape water" series.

3 Proven tips that save landscape water - Tip 3

2009-03-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

3 Proven tips that save landscape water

Note: This blog series will be rolled out as 4 separate posts.

Tip 3. Adjust to Seasons!
This is the first posting of a series of 4 posts about saving landscape water. We will start from the bottom of the list and work our way up. In the last posting of this series we will sum up the 3 tips and offer tools that can help in your project to save landscape water.

"The right amount of water" for your landscape is a moving target. Seasonal changes in temperature, humidity, wind, solar radiation, even the length of the daytime play a role in how much water your plants need to be healthy.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), located in San Francisco Bay Area sums up this requirement as:
"Your garden does not need as much water in April as it does in July. Add days to your watering schedule for the summer season and then reduce the number of days as fall approaches."

Calculating the amount of water your landscape needs can be a daunting task, especially if you have a lot of variety in your landscape. Slope, soil type, sun exposure as well as plant types play a major role in how much irrigation water you'll need to use.

Over and under watering can both be costly. So we will provide a list of tools that can help you adjust your watering schedules based on changing seasons. Please subscribe to our blog to be notified when we post the rest of the "3 Proven tips that save landscape water" series.

California drought emergency

2009-03-01T11:07:00.000-08:00

A few weeks of rain didn't stop California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from declaring a state emergency due to drought.

The governor called on urban water users to cut consumption by 20 percent. The state agencies will be tasked with implementing formal water reduction plans.

Are you on the board of your HOA? Are you a decision maker at a city or a water agency? Do you work as a part of the landscape management industry? Are you looking for ways to reduce irrigation water usage? Click here to learn more about saving water and reducing water bills.

Sources:
1. Reuters article "California declares drought emergency"
2. Droughtemergencyplan.com article Prepare your drought mitigation plan now"
3. W aterauditnews.info article "Make a Drought Emergency Plan Today"
4. BBC news clip "California in drought emergency"
5. Signonsandiego.com article "Voluntary water conservation"

Certified Water Managers Save $1,000's with AuditorSoft

2009-03-01T10:58:00.000-08:00

Landscape contractors, HOA boards, water agencies, cities are looking for ways to conserve water and cash. But reducing irrigation water usage while maintaining landscape assets health is a challenging task.

Certified Water Managers using AuditorSoft tools and processes offer an attractive solution.

To learn more click here: Certified Water Managers Save Water.

Landscape Videos

2009-02-21T07:26:00.000-08:00

What's my soil type? How do I select a sprinkler to water my new lawn?... If you got questions, we got the landscape videos to answer them.

We are gathering landscape videos full of useful information all in one place. Homeowners, landscape professionals alike can all find something useful here.

Click to view our landscape videos collection.

California is facing a significant water crisis in its history

2009-02-20T07:51:00.000-08:00

The recently published Water Plan Update 2009 notes that California is facing a significant water crisis in its history. The document prepared by the first inter-agency Steering Committee representing 21 State government agencies and a 45-member Advisory Committee notes that even a wet winter in 2008 will not bring total relief.

The reports says: Californians need to fundamentally change how we use water. We need to make water efficiency a priority at home, in our communities, on the farm, and at the office. AuditorSoft offers tools to make this fundamental change possible and manageable. You can read more about AuditorSoft software here: http://www.auditorsoft.com/products.html#lwm

You can read the report on the web at: http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/cwpu2009/index.cfm

How to Hire a Landscape Contractor

2009-02-16T19:56:00.000-08:00

How to Hire a Landscape Contractor

Whether you are searching for a professional landscape contractor to install new landscaping or to service a existing landscape assets, the professionals you consider should have certain qualifications.

Insurance
The insurance policies are critical. You may be liable if something unexpected happens and your contractor isn't sufficiently insured. Disqualify any contractor who fails to provide:

A worker's compensation insurance policy. This protects you from potential liability if one a worker gets hurt on your property. Ask for a certificate of insurance directly through the contractors insurance company.
A general liability insurance policy. This protects you in case of a disaster such as flooding or landslides caused by the contractor's actions. Look for liability policies with a limit of between $300,000 and $500,000 for residential properties and $1 million for commercial properties. Get a certificate of insurance directly through the contractors insurance company.

Certification, Training, Memberships and Licensing

Business license: A must have. Contractor must be able to provide you a business license.
Certifications: Ask if the contractor is certified through a reputable (public or private) organization.
Training: Training is provided through many sources such as associations, vendors, universities. Ask to see proof of the training that the contractor has.

References and Portfolios

A portfolio of past work: As for a brochure listing a few present customers and pictures of the landscaping.
References: Expect the contractor to provide the names and telephone numbers of references for you to call. Take the time to stop by and see the reference sites.

Other Factors

Professional appearance: Neat, clean and professional appearance indicates pride and professionalism.
Equipment: Look for a well maintained truck with the company logo.
Timeliness: Don't expect a contractor who is late to your first meeting to be on time in the future.
Association and/or trade organization membership: Many professional contractors chose to join associations and other similar organizations to keep up with standards and best practices.
Work history: Call up Better Business Bureau and check on the contractors history. If the job is large enough to justify the expense, check the contractors' Dun & Bradstreet reports.

References for this post:
Irrigation Association articles: http://www.irrigation.org

About AuditorSoft

2009-02-15T17:42:00.001-08:00

We at AuditorSoft stick to what we do best. Our focus is on developing services for two industries we know in depth, namely Landscape and Custodial maintenance industries. We use the Internet to deliver always available, high quality, easy to use software applications.

Here is what makes us who we are:

Industry Knowledge:
We have in depth knowledge about the industries that we serve. We understand tough, everyday business problems and develop solutions to address them.

Software as a Service Vision:
We believe in the power of always available, professionally managed and continuously improving software applications. Today, the best way to deliver such powerful applications is the software as a service model.

We concentrate our energy and resources into developing, improving and providing our software applications through the Internet.

Always on Infrastructure:
We go the extra mile when it comes to Infrastructure. We make sure our applications are quick to use and always on.
Our servers are located at professionally managed data centers with redundant Internet connections and electric power. To prevent down time due to disasters we host our applications at two data centers in two different states. We backup our data multiple times a day and store the backups off site.

For more information visit our web site at www.AuditorSoft.com