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Thinking of adding energy efficient pool equipment to your set up?

That’s a REALLY good idea. Keep reading and we’ll tell you why

These days, everyone knows the value of efficiency. Your car offers fuel efficiency, which lets you travel farther for less, saving you money on gas. Smartphones offer convenience, which improves time management and productivity.

And of course, the equipment and appliances you use at home provide different levels of energy efficiency. This is especially important when it comes to your pool.

Why?

Because energy efficient pool equipment is the difference between a 300 dollar energy bill, and a hundred dollar one. It improves pool heating and reduces water loss. It speeds up filter cycles and minimizes equipment wear and tear. And it automates your pool system to save you time. But those are just a few benefits of energy efficient pool equipment.

So if that sounds good to you, keep reading. In this post, we walk you through everything you need to know about energy efficient pool equipment. From choosing the right pump to finding the most affordable way to heat your pool and lower your bills.

Energy Efficient Pool Equipment 101

The benefits of energy efficient pool equipment:

Lowers your pool bills (energy) with cost-effective performance
Tax incentives and rebates for using efficient equipment
Reduces water and chemical loss
Improves heating efficiency and speed

Energy efficient pool pumps

Your filter pump is the heart of your swimming pool. It powers water circulation and makes filtration and heating possible.

That easily makes it the most important piece of equipment you own.

And that’s why it’s important to choose the right one. A pump that keeps your water flowing, and your pool clean – all at a reasonable cost.

– Single Speed Pool Pumps

These are the oldest types of pool pumps. And their name says everything you need to know: “single speed pool pumps”.

These pumps come in a range of horsepower options, but can only run at one constant speed. While this may be great for water circulation, it also means constant energy use.

If you can’t control pump speed, a drawback of single speed pumps, then you can’t control energy use (aside from shutting it off). Moreover, adjusting the speed of your pool pump is essential to certain tasks, like clearing out a green pool or heating up the water for the first time.

Imagine having a car that could only run at 60 mph. It’d be great for long straight highways, but in reality, you’d mostly be driving around town. So most of the time, it’d be WAY too much power for the job. Constantly running faster than it needs to and burning up energy (gas) it could be conserving.

That’s what single speed pumps are like, so be mindful of efficiency ratings if you choose this option.

-Dual Speed Pool Pumps

These pumps solve the shortcoming of single speed pumps head on. Dual speed pool pumps, as the name implies, offer two different flow speeds. So you can choose between a slow or fast option.

While that might sound like a small difference, it has a major effect on energy efficiency.

By running your pump at a lower speed at least 60% of the time, you’ll have no problem lowering your swimming pool bills. But whenever you do need more speed, the option is just a switch away.

That said, you might be asking: What if the low speed is TOO slow, and the high speed is TOO fast?

-Variable Speed Pool Pump

For those who want the most energy efficient swimming pool possible, a variable speed pool pump is the way to go.

Available in a variety of sizes and horsepowers, these pumps offer the most control over flow speed. Most units include anywhere from 3 to 5 different speed settings.

That gives you a special kind of freedom as a pool owner: The ability to run your pool pump adaptively, according to the job and time of year.

Running the pump at a higher speed helps to keep your water fresh and clean during those long summer pool parties. Meanwhile, choosing a slower speed during the cooler months helps your pool stay warm (if it’s heated) and comfortable.

Bottom line: Variable speed pool pumps can save over 90 percent in operating costs compared to single and dual speed pumps. They’re the most energy efficient pool pumps.

Which pool filter is the most energy efficient

energy efficient pool equipment cartridge pool filter — Image via Flickr

The type of pool filter you use has a direct effect on the purity of your water. It also affects energy use. Let’s explore how.

-Sand Pool Filter

The sand filter is one of the most widely used pool filters to this day. It’s simple, easy to set up, and affordable to maintain. All you really need is sand every now and then.

Oddly enough, while these filters do a great job of cleaning your water, they also come with a drawback: the sand itself.

The more dirt and contaminants mix with the sand, the more compacted and thick it becomes.

This behavior creates major water flow resistance, which causes sand filters to produce the slowest filter cycles.

This means having to run your filter longer than you would with cartridge or DE. It also means more strain on your pump motor, thanks to the flow resistance.

Bottom line: Sand filters do the job, but they do it slowest, costing you the most.

-DE Pool Filter

DE filters offer a happy medium between efficiency and performance. Well, when it comes to performance, they’re the best.

Thanks to the help of DE powder, which helps trap microscopic contaminants, DE filters provide the most sensitive filtration available. They use a grid system instead of sand, which allows for faster filter cycles. And naturally, faster filter cycles means less flow resistance – less flow resistance, less energy use.

Of course, this type of performance does come with a few minor drawbacks.

Whenever a DE filter is cleaned or backwashed, the DE powder for the grids needs replacement – a regular expense. And any filter that needs backwashing uses more water and energy than one that doesn’t.

-Cartridge Pool Filter

Here’s the poster child of energy efficient pool equipment, at least when it comes to pool filters. When it comes to filtration, cartridge filters get the title of being the most energy efficient pool equipment.

Why?

Well, a cartridge filter is much simpler than sand or DE. It only uses cartridges, which are lightweight, paper coated cylinders.

They’re a bit less sensitive than sand filters but offer the fastest filter cycles.

Since cartridge filter media is less sensitive than sand or DE, it’s easier for water to pass through. And that means less flow resistance, which as you know, means lower energy use.

Energy efficient pool heaters

If you’re like most pool owners, then you probably want to keep your pool warm at an affordable cost. And while cost-effectiveness is important, there are other variables to consider, like heating speed and reliability.

So which pool heater costs you the least and gives you the most? That all depends on what you want. Let’s take a look at each type.

-Solar pool heater

If using the power of the sun to heat your pool sounds ideal to you, then a solar pool heater could be a good choice.

It relies on your pool pump and the sun to keep your water warm. With the help of solar panels that collect solar heat energy, these heating systems use the power of your pump to transfer heated water. From the pool, then to the solar panels, and back into the pool.

But there’s one major drawback.

While solar heaters are certainly “green” and affordable to run, they’re fully dependent on the sun. Reliable performance from a solar heater requires several hours of sunshine. And factors like weather, temperature, and the clouds affect this heavily.

Past the regular swim season (around spring to late summer), solar heaters struggle to keep your water warm. Especially when the chilly winds of fall come breezing through. At that point, they just can’t produce enough heat to keep up with temperature drops.

For on-demand heat that extends your swim season, consider other pool heating options.

-Heat pump pool heater

A pool heat pump strikes the perfect balance between performance and efficiency. Similar to a solar heater, it uses the power of the sun, but in a very different way.

Heat pumps use the actual heat produced by the sun to warm up your pool.

With the help of a fan, the units pool in warm, surrounding air. A compressor later pressurizes that air into a hot gas, which gets sent to the heat exchanger. In the heat exchanger, the water from your pool passes through heated tubing (from the gas), where it warms up before flowing back in.

And the best part: whether it’s clear sunny skies, or gray rainy nights, a pool heat pump warms your pool all the same. As long as there’s warmth in the air, it’s no problem. For most units, the limit is around 50 degrees, but advanced pool heat pumps can operate down to the 30s.

As far as on-demand heating is concerned, pool heat pumps offer the best energy efficiency. They warm up your pool in just a few hours, regardless of the weather, and maintain temperatures with ease. And they do it at an affordable price, especially compared to speedier, more expensive options.

Bottom line: With a bit of warmth, heat pumps can heat your pool whenever you need them to at an affordable cost.

-Gas pool heater

If speed is your main concern, then gas pool heaters might work for you. They offer the fast heating speed, and like heat pumps, are mostly unaffected by weather.

If you need to heat your water when it’s near freezing temperatures outside, a gas heater is the best way to do it. And if you need to quickly heat your cold pool the day before a pool party, you’ll get the quickest results with it.

Of course, with such power comes a major drawback: gas.

Gas is expensive. And burning it definitely isn’t eco-friendly.

Consider this: While heating your pool with a heat pump might cost about $90 a month, heating that same pool with gas would easily cost you $300.

Bottom line: Gas heaters are fast and reliable, but not energy efficient or cheap

Energy efficient pool cleaners

Everyone can use a helping hand to keep their pools clean. Automatic pool cleaners fill that role by automating everyday tasks, like brushing and vacuuming your pool. Some are powered by your pool system, others by direct electricity or pumps.

Let’s figure out which one is best for you.

-Suction side pool cleaner

Of all the pool cleaner options available, suction side cleaners are the cheapest to run. They’re also THE most energy efficient pool equipment you can purchase.

Why?

Because they run off the power of your pool pump (your skimmer line), something you’re already running anyway.

That said, this kind of energy efficiency does come with a trade-off. Suction side pool cleaners lack the brushing and maneuvering capabilities offered by other cleaners. Plus, they aren’t self containing, which means all the debris that gets picked up goes to your filter.

Bottom line: energy efficiency over cleaning quality is a suction side pool cleaners’ strength.

-Robotic pool cleaner

Now, if you’re looking for a pool cleaner that can cover every inch of your pool and automatically improve its efficiency over time, choose a robotic pool cleaner.

That’s right, these things are so advanced that they “learn” the shape of your pool, and improve their cleaning routes over time. And they run on their own, without the help of your pool pump.

Just plug them in, drop in the water, and watch them work away. They pick up a wide range of debris and self-contain it within a built-in bag.

The only major drawbacks are the price tag and energy costs. Robotic cleaners are the most expensive, yet one of the most effective cleaning options. That said, they do require some electricity to do their job, which increases your swimming pool bills.

-Pressure side cleaner

If you’re looking for a true, set it and forget it pool cleaner, a pressure side cleaner is the way to go.

They’re powered by a dedicated booster pump and automated to run every few hours.

Most pressure side cleaners work almost as effectively as robotic cleaners. That said, they’re the least energy efficient – all because they need a separate pump to run.

With pressure side pool cleaners, you trade energy efficiency for great performance.

Energy efficient pool lights

A well-lit pool opens the door to countless nights of peaceful swims under the stars. But as you know, keeping the lights on aint cheap. And the type of pool lightbulbs you use makes a huge difference in energy consumption.

Let’s make this easy:

There are 3 types of pool lights.

Incandescent, halogen, and LED

Incandescent bulbs are the old school bulbs that get REALLY hot after a few minutes. These are the LEAST energy efficient as they release most of their energy in, you guessed it, the form of heat.

Halogen bulbs follow a similar path. While they emit less heat energy, they do still get hot and pull like a incandescent bulb would.

And then there are LEDs. The crown jewel of the lighting world. LEDs offer cooler and brighter lighting at a fraction of the cost of incandescent or halogen bulbs.

But just how energy efficient are they?

Consider this:

LEDs are at least 70% more efficient than incandescent bulbs. So if running a set of LED pool lights for 8 hours costs you $150 per year, doing it with incandescent bulbs would cost almost $1000.

Big difference.

Choose the energy efficient pool equipment – switch to LED pool lights and start saving.

A few more tips on energy efficient pool equipment and pools: