Having an eco-friendly pool can be extremely beneficial, not only for minimizing one’s carbon footprint, but for reducing the financial burden of pool ownership. Pools consume large amounts of energy for heating, running the pump, and keeping the water clear and swimmable. Therefore, if you don’t follow the proper strategies, your pool can easily become both an energy drain on the planet, and a cost drain on your budget!
Here are some simple steps you can follow to create an energy efficient pool that will not only help save you money, but keep your environmental impact minimal.
An energy efficient pool uses the latest technology to minimize the amount of energy and water that it consumes / loses. Pools can lose energy from inefficient heaters and pool pumps, low quality or dirty filters, and improper pool maintenance. A pool will regularly lose water due to the sun without intervention maintenance.
Additionally, pool maintenance requires the use of chemicals, which contribute to greenhouse gas production. Opting for more green pool maintenance products and recognizing areas where a pool is experiencing energy loss are great first steps in your inground pool transformation.
There are small efforts that pool owners can take, which lead to big changes in energy consumption, water loss, and greenhouse gas production. Creating a more eco-friendly inground pool comes down to the following strategies.
You can use less chemicals by performing regular chemical monitoring. A healthy pool will require less pool chemicals than a severely unbalanced pool. When you don’t monitor and adjust your chemicals regularly, there is no doubt about it, your pool will require more chlorine, algaecide, and other chemicals to correctly balance the water
Choosing an energy star rated pool pump will greatly cut down your pool’s energy consumption level. In addition, solar pool heaters are great alternatives for heating your pool. If you have a pump that is aging or you have an older style heater, upgrading can be an easy choice for reducing energy consumption and achieving better results with your inground pool.
Saltwater pools are not just beneficial to pool owners and swimmers, but they also have less environmental impact than traditional chlorine pools. This is largely due to the reduction in harsh chemicals that are needed to maintain the pool. Traditional chlorine pools require frequent additions of manufactured chlorine, which involves energy-intensive production processes and the potential for harmful environmental spills during transport and storage.
Moreover, backwashing or draining a chlorine pool can introduce high concentrations of chlorine into the surrounding environment, which can be harmful to local flora and fauna. On the other hand, saltwater pools generate their own chlorine, reducing the amount of manufactured chlorine that enters the environment. Plus, because the salt is recycled within the system, saltwater pools require less frequent backwashing or draining.
It’s also worth noting that the salt used in these pools is a natural mineral and is less harmful to the environment than synthetic chemicals. However, owners should be aware that salt can be harmful to certain plants and should plan their landscaping accordingly.
A pool cover can keep your chemicals more balanced, prevent evaporation, and maintain the water’s temperature. Regularly using a solar cover is perfect etiquette for keeping your pool eco-friendly.
Including an automated system for your pool pump and heater, such as scheduling timers, will make it easier to regulate your energy use. Rather than leaving your pool running 24/7, you will have a better way to minimize your energy consumption while still maintaining consistent conditions inside your pool.
You can automate almost any system with an eco-friendly pool from lighting, to pumps and heaters. This can significantly help you create an energy efficient pool.
A leak can cause water loss of epic proportions over time. Even a small leak in your pool could lead to thousands of gallons of water lost over a full year. If you notice a leak, make sure to repair it quickly.
We’re proud to offer you the same quality pool service and dependability we’ve offered our clients since 1985, and the best pool cleaning, pool resurfacing, and pool repair services around. If you’re considering an eco-friendly pool, contact us today! We can install a number of energy saving changes to your pool that will reduce its impact on the environment.
