Turn Your Home’s Pool into an Eco-friendly Pool
Swimming should be relaxing. However, it’s easy to worry that your pool might not be environmentally friendly. Take your summer dips without guilt. We can help you build or retrofit your pool to meet your sustainability goals.
Like most things around your home, older pool equipment is far less efficient. However, with a few upgrades from the team at America’s Swimming Pool Company, You can make your pool more efficient– which can help save the environment and money on your energy bills.
Are Swimming Pools Bad for The Environment?
Environmentally friendly pools used to be thought of as a myth. Traditional pools use chemicals to keep us safe and large quantities of energy to maintain temperature, but advances in pool technologies have made pools substantially safer for the environment. Some of the most common ways pools impact the environment are:
- Heavy electrical usage by pumps
- Harmful chemicals that end up in local water supplies
- High water usage
How To Build an Eco-Friendly Swimming Pool In 5 Steps
Whether you’re building new or retrofitting your existing pool, consider opting for environmentally friendly pool practices. Consider:
1. Using a Pool Cover to Help Regulate Temperature
Sunshine alone won’t keep your pool at a comfortable temperature. Pools can keep you cool on a hot day, but nobody wants their pool to be an ice bath! To combat this, most people use heaters, which increase their pool's electricity usage. Instead, use a solar cover to conserve heat and energy. A solar cover allows the sun’s rays to reach your pool water through the cover during the heat of the day but traps heat in your pool when temperatures drop overnight. Keep your pool covered when not in use to maximize the benefit of your pool cover.
2. Install a New, Efficient Pool Pump
Pool pumps use anywhere from 3,000 to over 5,000 kWh per year. According to some estimates, your pool’s pump could be the second-highest energy user in your home. Replacing an old, inefficient pump can significantly reduce your energy bills. According to one estimate, switching your pump to an Energy Star® rated appliance can save you nearly $300 and use 18% less energy over the life span of your pump. A new law that went into effect on July 19, 2021, requires variable-speed pumps to take the place of single-speed pool and spa pumps that don't meet minimum efficiency requirements instructed by the Department of Energy (DOE). All pool and spa pumps manufactured or installed after the July 19, 2021 date are required to be energy-efficient variable speed pumps."
3. Say No to Chlorine and Yes to Salt
Have you heard of a saltwater pool? An increasingly popular option, saltwater pools use significantly less chlorine than traditional pools. As a result, when you drain the water or if there is overflow, there is less impact on surrounding watersheds.
Chlorine is the main chemical used to sterilize pools. Chlorine can have negative consequences, killing fish and affecting water quality. To combat this, many homeowners are switching their pools to salt instead. With their reduced need for chemicals, salt-based pool runoff won’t impact the environment as severely chlorine water will. Don’t let the thought of saltwater scare you. You won’t be diving into the ocean when you go out to your backyard for a dip; the salt level in a pool will be about 1/10th of an average ocean. Still want more information? We have all the answers to your saltwater vs. chlorine questions.
4. Replace Old Pool Lights
You’ve probably been hearing for years about the benefits of switching out the light bulbs in your home to energy-efficient LED bulbs. The lights in your pool are no different! Switching to higher-efficiency LED bulbs can better illuminate your pool while saving you money on monthly energy bills.
5. Choose an Eco-Friendly Pool Cleaner
Eco-friendly pools still need to be cleaned. Using environmentally conscious cleaning products will help you keep your pool eco-friendly without letting it turn green. Eco-friendly cleaners usually rely on more natural ingredients, such as borax. You can even use baking soda to clean your pool. One other option to consider is a robotic pool cleaner. These are an energy-efficient way to keep your pool scrubbed.
Learn More About Eco-Friendly Pool Options from America’s Swimming Pool Company
Whether you’re looking to add a cover, swap traditional for energy-saving LED bulbs, or take the plunge and convert your pool to saltwater, our local service professionals are here to help!
Swimming should be relaxing. Stop stressing about the sustainability of your pool and contact your local America’s Swimming Pool Company. Request your pool service online or call (866) 253-0455 today!