LDS Church expands global water conservation with smart technology

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is advancing its water conservation efforts across its global properties, particularly in regions prone to drought such as Latin America, the Pacific, Southern Africa, and the United States. The initiative includes implementing more water-efficient landscaping practices at Church meetinghouses worldwide.

Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé emphasized the importance of environmental stewardship: “This is a topic, caring for the earth, that we have worked on for a long time. And so that’s not new, but there’s a new emphasis.” He highlighted the diverse challenges faced by different countries and stressed the Church's commitment to addressing these issues.

A key project involves installing smart controllers at over 3,000 meetinghouses in the Western United States' "pioneer corridor," which encompasses Idaho, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Nevada, Wyoming, and Montana. Nearly 1,800 systems are scheduled for installation this year. Andrew Stringfellow from Intermountain Facilities Services explained that these controllers adjust irrigation based on weather conditions to conserve water effectively.

David Wright from the Church’s Meetinghouse Facilities Department noted that smart controllers can achieve up to 20% savings in water consumption compared to traditional systems. These devices allow remote management via computers or mobile devices. Pablo Morales from Gold Medal Landscape Management praised their convenience: “We don’t have to be on-site to be managing these controllers.”

On Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, ongoing renovations include planting more trees and reducing lawn areas by 35%. The implementation of smart controllers contributes significantly to annual water savings.

Scott Karpowitz from Headquarters Facilities detailed how specific settings cater to different plant needs: “Everything has its own settings and its own parameters to give those plants the water that they need.”

The Church anticipates saving 500 million gallons of water in the first full year following implementation.