There are lots of reasons to want to make your pool more energy efficient. Yes, it’s great for the environment – but if you do things right – you might save a lot of money on your energy bills. And that’s not even getting into the plethora of tax incentives and rebates you’ll be eligible for by making a few changes.
Today, we’re going to discuss a few things you can do to make your pool a little bit more energy-efficient and how those things might save you a little money in the process. Let’s jump right in.
Preventing water evaporation
You’d be surprised to hear this – but did you know that according to the US Department of Energy that water evaporation is the largest source of over consumption? In fact, it accounts for roughly 70% of total energy lost – specifically in swimming pools.
Why is that? Because when the water evaporates, it takes the pool’s heat along with it. For every gallon lost to evaporation, a pool can lose an inch to an inch and a half of water every week.
There are two remedies for this issue. The first is to cover your pool as much as possible (some covers will help warm the water) and that’s keeping your pool temperature a little cooler. This way, you’ll lose a lot less water to evaporation.
Windbreaks
If you live in an area where you get a lot of wind, then you’ll want to consider installing windbreaks. Just 7mph of wind on your pool can increase energy consumption 300%. They should be tall enough and close enough to the pool to limit any air turbulence over the surface of the pool itself. Walls, screens and solid fencing should do the trick.
Manage your thermostat
People tend to get a little lazy when it comes to monitoring their pool temperature. It’s like not turning the light on or off when you leave a room. We all do it. That being said – if you’re a family that only really uses the pool on the weekends, turn the temperature down a few degrees on the week. If you’re leaving home on vacation, turn off the heater (unless of course the weather is freezing). Just being more proactive about monitoring your pool can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
Go solar
Solar heating is popular everywhere to be honest, and particularly when it comes to swimming pools. Solar heaters and covers help use the heat from the sun to heat your pool. During the day they collect and distribute heat. During the night, they keep the heat inside your pool. Sometimes solar blankets take longer that run of the mill heaters to get things warm, but they will work – and save you a lot of money in the process.
With a little extra due diligence and some modest investments, you can save a ton in energy bills with your pool. If you’d like to learn more about how you can make your space more energy efficient – feel free to give us a call and we’ll be happy to provide you with a free consultation. Good luck!
