Peter Sandford, owner of Smarter Homes, brings decades of experience in Austin to the home technology industry. The West Lake Hills business was established in 2006, offering expertise on home automation systems to locals. 

In a nutshell: Sandford specializes in designing systems for lighting, motorized shades, security and more, with a focus on reliability, longevity and easy-usage, he said.

Zooming in: One of his areas of interest is smart irrigation systems, which use connected controllers, sensors and live data to automate watering schedules. The system takes into account environmental factors, including weather, soil moisture and temperature to adjust watering needs. 

“When integrated into a smart home, irrigation becomes dynamic, improving efficiency and reducing water waste,” Sandford said.

Sandford connected with Community Impact to talk about the home automation process and further details for implementing smart irrigation systems. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

The Lower Colorado River Authority is set to invest billions in infrastructure across its service area to address the needs of Central Texas' growing population. 

What you need to know: The authority announced its investment and business plan for fiscal year 2026-27 on May 21. The plan projects water demand will grow "significantly" through 2031, alongside electrical demand. 

The details: Plans show power, water and broadband infrastructure development account for $1.8 billion for just FY 2026-27. The funds will come from the authority's on revenues and debt, with no state appropriations included, a news release states.

The downtown market is normalizing after years of growth, and contending with both challenges and opportunities tied to a series of major infrastructure projects now impacting the area.

Downtown Austin is seeing fewer new developments and record office vacancy rates following a wave of major projects around the city center. At the same time, public and private investments are continuing and the area is home to a rebounding retail scene and established resident base.

Those findings and more were detailed in the latest annual report from the Downtown Austin Alliance, the nonprofit advocacy group representing downtown property owners. The analysis of downtown market trends and outlook for the area's future were presented mid-May.

About 2.94 million square feet of space is under construction downtown, and the DAA currently projects 8.22 million more square feet of planned new development. Office vacancies remain high, hotel bookings declined after the Austin Convention Center's closure for redevelopment, and residential growth steadied out in 2025.

Check out some of the most-read stories from the Austin area May 18-21. 

1. The Pulao Company set to open this summer in Leander

2. City moving toward 2.6K-acre annexation to support decades of mixed-use development in East Austin

3. $250M Amazon warehouse, distribution center near CR 172 in Round Rock now operational

4. H-E-B plus! expansion, new fitness gym and more Kyle business news this spring

5. Berry Creek Drive in Georgetown closed due to storm damage

6. Pflugerville ISD teachers, nurses, psychologists to see pay bump in 2026-27