AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Austin-based startup AustinDevices, LLC today announced the launch of a Kickstarter campaign to finish development of Zilker, an intelligent water management and home irrigation device.
Zilker is an Internet-connected device that controls and monitors a home’s outdoor water distribution without requiring an in-ground sprinkler system. It costs thousands of dollars less than an in-ground system, and continuously saves money through decreased, smarter water consumption.
Zilker is composed of two parts, a small valve that attaches to an outdoor faucet and a bridge that connects the valve to the Internet. Together they analyze local weather data to automatically adjust water delivery and enable control from anywhere via a mobile-based iOS app.
“Gone are the days when you had to remember to turn off the sprinkler or water the garden before going on vacation,” said John Hanna, founder of AustinDevices and developer of Zilker. “Zilker has the intelligence you expect from a modern device. It can let you know if your hose has a leak, when the batteries are low, or if a storm is approaching.”
If widely deployed, Zilker could significantly reduce national water use. In such states as California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas—where outdoor water consumption can reach 60 percent of a house’s total water usage, according to the EPA—Zilker provides a cheaper and more efficient alternative that could reduce outdoor water usage by half.
The Kickstarter campaign launched April 22, 2016 (Earth Day), and seeks $260,000 in contributions. Contributors will receive a substantial discount on Zilker when it is released in Spring 2017. Early contributors will receive the starter pack—which consists of one valve and one bridge—for $129 and each additional valve for $59. Full retail price for the starter pack will be $159, and each additional valve will cost $89. Each bridge is capable of supporting up to eight valves.
“Whether you’re using Zilker for a container garden, turf grass or to grow vegetables, this Kickstarter campaign was created to generate the economies of scale needed to make Zilker more affordable and accessible to the general public,” Hanna said.
Many cities offer significant rebates for purchasing systems such as Zilker, helping to mitigate the cost of the purchase.
About AustinDevices
John Hanna established AustinDevices, LLC in 2014 to develop the Zilker water management device. Hanna is a mechanical engineer and product designer from Austin, Texas, and has designed products for Apple, Flextronics, National Instruments and others.
AustinDevices is not funded by angel investment or venture capital. Hanna and the company are relying entirely on Kickstarter, friends, family and hard work to launch Zilker.
U.S. Patent No. US9049832 B1 protects the intellectual property present in Zilker.
For more information, please visit www.zilker.co.
