For many homeowners, having a pool is the height of achievement. It’s the ultimate indulgence and a great way to enhance your home life. Unfortunately, enjoying a pool isn’t effortless. Some even find the energy drain on their homes isn’t worth the investment.
However, modern, energy-efficient pool equipment has reduced and eliminated many of these energy concerns. If you’re a pool owner and want to upgrade your equipment to a more energy-efficient operation or have debated investing in a pool because of energy concerns, here’s what you need to know to put your mind at ease.
Pool Pumps
Energy-efficient pool pumps are one of the best tools to help you lower your carbon footprint. Traditional pool pumps are responsible for a great deal of the energy drain your pool creates.
Upgrading to an energy-efficient option allows you to improve efficiency without sacrificing any of the functionality of your pump. There are a couple of more energy-efficient pool pumps available, including:
Variable-speed pumps
These pumps allow pool owners to adjust the speed based on their personal needs. This means they can run their pump at a lower speed during lower-use times. These pumps use energy-efficient magnet motors that can reduce energy by up to 80 percent.
Dual-speed pumps
Like variable-speed pumps, these speeds allow you to adjust the setting. You can lower it when your pool needs less attention and increase it for more intense cleaning sessions. They aren’t quite as efficient as variable-speed pumps, but they cost less and offer energy savings, so they’re a great option for people who want to improve efficiency but don’t have the budget for a variable-speed pump. These pumps improve efficiency by about 60 to 70 percent.
Pool Heaters
Heating a pool is a significant energy drain, but it’s the best way to extend your pool usage and ensure you get your money’s worth of enjoyment. Luckily, there are ways you can increase the efficiency of heating your pool. The most energy-efficient pool heating systems include:
Solar
Solar heaters use the sun’s energy to heat your pool. They are one of the most energy-efficient heating options available. Solar energy is clean and renewable but less reliable than other methods. Solar heaters tend to have a high upfront cost but save a great deal of money over time if you live in a relatively sunny environment.
Pumps
Heat pumps are a great energy-efficient option for heating your pool when you want to reduce your carbon footprint, but solar heating isn’t an option. Heat pumps transfer heat to the pool water, a process that uses less electricity than gas and electric heating options. These types of heaters are best suited for regions with moderate temperatures.
Lighting
Lighting is another investment you can make to enhance your pool’s usefulness. LED lighting is the most energy-efficient option and can reduce energy usage by about 80 percent over traditional lighting methods.
LED lighting also lasts longer and produces minimal heat. LED Smart lighting systems are also a great option, allowing you to put your lighting on timers or remote controls, making it easier to only use the lighting when needed.
Cleaners
Cleaning your pool is not only time-consuming, but it can also drain energy. Investing in a robotic cleaner reduces your energy consumption and the “elbow grease” needed to keep your pool sanitary.
Traditional suction-side or pressure-side cleaners use the pool’s pump to operate, which increases its energy consumption. Robotic cleaners are efficient and can reduce your pool’s carbon footprint.
They’re self-contained, which means they have their own motors and use far less electricity than your pool pump for cleaning. Some robotic cleaning models even have timers to schedule regular interval cleaning when needed.
Creating an Energy-Efficient Pool Maintenance System
This energy-efficient pool equipment significantly reduces your carbon footprint without compromising comfort or cleanliness. Whether you opt for a more efficient pump or solar heater, upgrade to LED lighting or a robotic cleaner, or invest in all of these tools, you’ll be creating a more sustainable, eco-friendly pool. Not only do these changes benefit the environment, but they also offer financial savings on energy bills over time.
Are you ready to upgrade and reduce your pool’s carbon footprint? We can help. Call us today to discuss your options.