Small Energy Efficient Changes On Your Inground Swimming Pool Can Save You $340 Annually

11 Nov Small Energy Efficient Changes On Your Inground Swimming Pool Can Save You $340 Annually

Are You Spending Way Too Much to Operate Your Swimming Pool?

From Bob Vila

This summer, take a serious look at the cost of operating and maintaining your pool. You may find that a pump upgrade could provide as much relief to your wallet as your pool provides to your family’s comfort and happiness.

Receiving one’s first gas and electric bill after building an inground swimming pool can be an eye-opening experience.  Most people are not prepared for the increased costs of utilities that result from the operation of a pool and/or hydrotherapy pool.  This post from Bob Vila presents some of the latest technologies and small changes that can be made to save a bunch of money during the Summer months, as well as to be environmentally friendly.

Here is an excerpt from the post:

 For those who are lucky enough to own a swimming pool, this is the best time of year. But as you soak in the sun, your pool’s impact on your household budget may be more than you bargained for. The alarming fact is that if you have a conventional pool pump, you are very likely paying too much—much too much—in monthly operating costs.

Data shows that in homes with pools, the pump typically ranks only behind heating and cooling in terms of overall energy consumption. You’ve probably noticed that your energy bills rise during those months when your family enjoys the pool. What you may not have realized is that in a given year those costs add up to $460, on average. Well, that figure might make anyone consider cutting their losses, but don’t drain the pool just yet! According to ENERGY STAR, the solution is simple. Ditch the outmoded pump and replace it with a high-efficiency model. ENERGY STAR pool pumps are independently certified to save energy and money – they typically use about 70 percent less energy, saving the average household between $280 and $340 annually.

“Replacing your old pool pump with one that has earned the ENERGY STAR has obvious financial benefits for families across the country,” says ENERGY STAR Labeling Branch Chief Ann Bailey. “But it also has a big-picture impact for the environment. If all pool pumps sold in the U.S. were ENERGY STAR certified, the energy cost savings would grow to about $165 million each year, and three billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented, equivalent to the emissions from nearly 280,000 vehicles.”

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