Page 196 - Shaping A Sustainable Future

After several runs, the average water consumption rate of the drip-irrigation system was measured at 0.0143 m3
of water per minute as the irrigation was set to 10 minutes per session, equated to 0.143 m3 of water per session.
Upon implementation of the eco-solution, the projected amount of annual CO Emissions is in Table 3.
2

Resource Number of Usage per Daily Usage Annual Usage Annual CO 2 Conversion
Potted Plants Watering Session (Twice Daily (m ) Emissions Factor
3
(m ) manual (kgCO /m )
3
3
2
watering, m )
3
Water 20 0.014 0.029 10.439 6.263 0.6 kgCO /m 3
2
800 0.572 1.144 417.560 250.536 0.6 kgCO /m 3
2

Table 3: Data on the drip irrigation water carbon emission.

A significant reduction in carbon emissions was achieved $850 was spent on five sets of automated timers, along
by implementing the automated drip-irrigation system. with drip irrigation parts sufficient for 200 potted plants.
If we compare the data with manual watering, an 80 % An additional $1,200 would need to be invested to
reduction in carbon emissions are estimated. Further cover the whole retail area, which would bring the total
optimization of the timing and duration may be needed, investment for automated drip irrigation in the area
depending on the type of plants present, the size of to be $2,050. With the price of water at $2.19/m , an
3
plants, and the prevailing weather. However, an 80 % estimated savings of $3,689.80 can be achieved in one
reduction in carbon emissions is significant enough to year, representing a return of investment (ROI) in less
conclude that the automated drip-irrigation system is a than six months.
significant step forward in the company’s environmental
sustainability.

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