Heating your pool? How to save energy and money

[Enlarge Photo]

Energy efficiency is a hot topic everywhere these days and, in homes and communities nationwide, swimming pools and spas are becoming a focus of that conversation. That's because pools and spas require energy for heating and filtering water. And everyone, from owners to local and state government leaders, is looking for ways to significantly reduce this energy use. In fact, in some communities, energy-efficient pool operation is no longer an option, but a requirement mandated by law.

For pool owners, the perfect solution would be a way to maintain a comfortable water temperature, while conserving energy and saving money. Fortunately, research and development by the pool industry over the past few years has led to new products and options that make that ideal entirely possible.

The Northeast Spa and Pool Association (NESPA), an organization representing the pool and spa industry in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern New England regions, is leading a comprehensive energy initiative to educate builders, pool owners and government organizations about these options. "Conserving energy in pool operations is a real win-win for everyone involved," notes Lawrence Caniglia, NESPA's executive director. "Pool owners save money, fewer carbon emissions are created, and communities can conserve resources, while reducing their costs for energy delivery infrastructure."

According to NESPA, whether you have an existing pool, or are building a new one, energy conservation can be accomplished with a combination of covers, pumps and piping.

Keep the Heat with a Solar Cover

One way that heat loss from a pool occurs is due to water evaporation. By using a solar cover on your pool, you can prevent evaporation, and keep the heat. In fact a solar cover can reduce water loss by 30 to 50 percent, and reduce heating costs by 50 to 70 percent. An added benefit is that reducing water loss also reduces the amount of chemical water treatment required. Solar covers are fairly inexpensive, and new devices are available from pool retailers that make taking the cover on and off easier than ever.

Another option for reducing evaporation is a product known as a liquid solar blanket. This tasteless, odorless, colorless chemical is simply added to the pool once a month to prevent evaporation. The product is completely safe, and about half as effective as a solar blanket.

Reduce Power with Pumps and Piping

A swimming pool is really just an oversized tub, with a pump that pulls water from the skimmer and pushes it through a filter, sending the cleaned water back into the pool through a system of pipes. Design engineers have found that by using larger pipes and changing 90-degree pipe joints to a wider, curved design, less horse power (HP) is needed by the pump to push the water through the system. That opens the door for smaller, high-efficiency pumps. For new pools, this new pump and piping design offers a 40 to 50 percent reduction in energy use compared to traditional designs.

While it would be impractical to replace piping in an existing pool, it is possible to capture energy and cost savings by upgrading to a new two-speed, or variable-speed, pump. Both save energy by offering the capability to run at lower speeds when less pressure is needed.

A two-speed pump offers a low- and high-speed setting, and a time clock or automated control system that allows you to set the hours of operation to off-peak time periods, or to coincide with your use of the pool. A variable speed pump can have as many as eight speed settings, and can be programmed to run at different power levels in response to power needs for the heater, cleaner or water features.

While the new pumps are more expensive than the traditional one-speed pumps, they usually pay for themselves in one or two seasons. And, many utility companies offer rebates for upgrading to the newer pump designs.

Safety Upgrades

While thinking about improving your pool's energy efficiency, remember to also consider safety improvements. NESPA stresses that a fun pool is a safe pool. Among the layers of protection, NESPA recommends the installation of anti-entrapment systems to prevent swimmers from becoming entrapped by drains or section outlets. If you're already thinking about pipes, filtration and pumps, it's the perfect time to also protect against this danger.

To learn more about increasing your pool's energy efficiency and safety, start with the NESPA Web site, www.nespapool.org. You'll find a list of NESPA members, photos of award-winning pools, and a wealth of information on pool designs, maintenance and more. For educational pamphlets on how to build, operate and maintain a safe pool, write to NESPA at 6B South Gold Drive, Hamilton, NJ 08691. p>

Editors' Note: The Northeast Spa & Pool Association members serve customers in the states of: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania only.