When most people think about technological innovation, lawn sprinklers rarely come to mind. Yet one Minnesota-based company is proving that even century-old technology can benefit from a digital transformation. Irrigreen, headquartered in Edina, Minnesota, has developed a smart irrigation system that applies inkjet printer principles to lawn watering with results that are turning heads across the residential landscape industry.
From Edina to National Recognition
The story of Irrigreen Edina begins with inventor Gary Klinefelter, an inkjet printing expert who recognized that the same precision technology used in printers could revolutionize how we water our lawns. Rather than using fixed-arc spray heads that indiscriminately spray water regardless of where grass actually grows, Klinefelter envisioned a system that could “print” water exactly where needed.
The concept sounds simple, but the engineering required years of development. Traditional sprinkler systems waste enormous amounts of water because they can’t distinguish between lawn and driveway, between grass and sidewalk. They operate on the principle of overlap, intentionally covering areas multiple times to ensure no dry spots. Irrigreen’s digital approach eliminates this systematic waste by using software to map property boundaries and direct water only to designated areas.
How the Technology Actually Works
Each Irrigreen sprinkler head contains 16 independently controlled water streams that can adjust pressure and direction in real time. Homeowners use a smartphone app to trace their lawn’s boundaries, marking areas that shouldn’t receive water such as patios, driveways, and flower beds. The system then calculates optimal spray patterns that conform precisely to these boundaries.
This precision delivery means installations require approximately 80% fewer sprinkler heads compared to traditional systems. A property that might need a dozen conventional heads can often be covered by just two or three Irrigreen units. The reduction in hardware translates to less trenching during installation, fewer components that can fail, and significantly lower water consumption.
Independent testing by California State University’s Center for Irrigation Technology validated the company’s efficiency claims, finding that Irrigreen systems used roughly 50% less water than traditional sprinklers while maintaining equivalent lawn health. For the average household, that translates to 15,000-30,000 gallons saved annually.
Community Feedback and Real-World Performance
Irrigreen reviews from actual users consistently highlight both the technology’s novelty and its practical benefits. One early adopter described the “wow factor” of watching the system in action, noting that neighbors would gather to observe how the sprinkler could adjust its pattern to perfectly match lawn boundaries. Another customer reported that their property, which would typically require over 40 conventional heads, needed only 9 Irrigreen units to achieve superior coverage.
The company has also engaged directly with users through community forums and social media. An Irrigreen AMA session on Reddit featured the company’s Vice President of Operations answering detailed questions about installation, performance, and future development plans. These direct interactions demonstrate a level of transparency uncommon in the irrigation industry and provide potential customers with unfiltered information about both strengths and limitations of the technology.
Professional reviews have been equally positive. Forbes reported that operating the system was “a breeze” once installed, while CBS News selected Irrigreen as the “Best Smart Sprinkler” in its 2024 smart lawn technology guide. The publication noted that water bill savings could enable the system to pay for itself within 3-5 years.
The Broader Impact
Beyond individual properties, Irrigreen’s technology addresses a significant environmental challenge. American households use approximately 9 billion gallons daily for outdoor irrigation, with the EPA estimating that nearly half is wasted through evaporation, wind drift, and runoff. If even a fraction of residential systems adopted precision irrigation, the cumulative water savings could supply entire cities.
The company announced in 2025 that it had achieved 500 million gallons of water saved across its installed base. While impressive as a milestone, that figure represents something more significant: proof that residential water conservation can happen without lifestyle sacrifice. Homeowners maintain healthy, green lawns while using half the water, demonstrating that environmental benefits and quality of life improvements can align when supported by better technology.
As water rates continue climbing and drought conditions intensify across many regions, the case for precision irrigation grows stronger. Recent discussions in irrigation communities highlight growing interest from both homeowners and professionals. Irrigreen’s journey from Edina startup to national water conservation leader illustrates how focused innovation in seemingly mundane categories can create meaningful environmental and economic impact, as detailed in analysis of the $200 billion water waste crisis affecting American residential properties.