Why Smart Home Tech Must Extend Outside

Forbes

4 days ago

Shane Dyer is an IoT expert and CEO of Irrigreen, the all-digital sprinkler system designed for ultimate precision.
The conversation around connected technology often starts in the home. Smart thermostats that learn our habits, video doorbells that recognize familiar faces, innovations that make our lives simpler and more comfortable while also saving money and resources with efficiency gains. Smart technology has completely transformed inside spaces over the last two decades, but what happens when we step outside in our yards?
Outdoor spaces—where we host barbecues, play catch with our kids or enjoy a quiet morning—are a meaningful extension of our homes and our lives. And while indoor tech has leaped forward, outdoor infrastructure has barely changed, and that's a problem. Not only for convenience but also for efficiency and resource management, especially as climate change accelerates and fresh water becomes scarcer.
Our backyards, playgrounds, fields and parks remain largely disconnected from the digital advancements that have transformed our homes and indoor spaces. Why?
Why Our Outdoor Spaces Are Still Stuck In The Past
Existing indoor connectivity was enabled from a carefully constructed foundation. Homes and buildings are standardized with power outlets and Wi-Fi coverage, a "digital railroad track" intentionally and systematically laid over the last three decades.
But the moment you step outside, things get more complicated. Setting up intelligent systems in fields, parks or even along your property line means confronting a lack of reliable power, limited or no internet connectivity and harsh environmental conditions. Yet this is precisely where we need this tech—where significant energy and water inefficiencies impact our pocketbooks and our ability to enjoy the space.
Imagine the possibilities when we extend intelligence outward. A smart fence that expands your home's security system to the edge of your property, offering real-time alerts when someone (or something) crosses the boundary. Adaptive outdoor lighting that doesn't just follow a timer or motion sensor but responds dynamically to our family's life. Pet devices that use sensors to gently redirect your dog away from a freshly planted garden bed.
These ideas aren't science fiction—they're the natural evolution of the connected home, expanding to the spaces we use to gather, play and unwind. They're the next layer of comfort, safety and sustainability for the way we actually live.
How Intelligent Landscapes Build Most Sustainable Communities
The promise of connected outdoor products is about more than convenience or showcasing cool technology. It's about stewardship and building more efficient neighborhoods and cities. It's about doing our part—starting with our own backyards—to conserve shared resources like water and energy, reduce strain on our communities and adapt to the growing demands of a changing climate. Done well, smarter outdoor systems attack the problem of high energy and water bills that hit us hard, especially in the summer.
Consider one of the most overlooked culprits of residential and community waste: outdoor water and irrigation. According to the EPA, nearly 50% of outdoor water usage is wasted through evaporation, wind and runoff from outdated sprinkler systems. Traditional systems rely on static schedules, completely disconnected from real-time conditions like weather changes or soil moisture levels. Implementing smart sprinklers that adapt instantly could save billions of gallons of water each year—conserving a precious resource, significantly lowering utility costs and making tangible environmental impacts.
And while many homeowners are already benefiting from these savings, the real potential lies in scaling this technology to the 40-plus million acres of green space across the U.S. Imagine the impact if smart irrigation tech were deployed in shared outdoor spaces—apartment courtyards, school campuses, community parks. Fewer wasted gallons would mean lower HOA fees, fewer maintenance headaches and more funds available for programming that benefits the community. In drought-prone cities, smarter systems could ease the strain on public utilities and prevent more drastic conservation measures that remove the green spaces we play and relax on.
In an age when every drop counts, these small, hyperlocal actions can collectively lead to a massive global impact. Starting in your own backyard isn't a small gesture; it's a meaningful act of stewardship that radiates outward into your neighborhood, your city and the planet.
Toward A More Intelligent, Sustainable Future
We've spent decades making the inside of our homes more connected, efficient and intuitive. With advancements in edge computing, AI decision making and low-power sensors and networks, we now have the tools to bring the same level of intelligence to our outdoor space. Using our shared resources more wisely, we can be better neighbors, better stewards of our natural resources and build more resilient communities.
Let's build a future where outside spaces are more sustainable, more affordable and, most importantly, more enjoyable for the people using them. Whether it's your backyard, your block or your city's green spaces, these environments are too important—and too full of potential—to be left behind.
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