{"id":32,"date":"2014-01-28T11:42:56","date_gmt":"2014-01-28T16:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mypoolsigns.com/blog\/?p=32"},"modified":"2025-03-11T05:25:35","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T09:25:35","slug":"3-ways-pool-owners-can-combat-drought-save-green","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mypoolsigns.com/blog\/3-ways-pool-owners-can-combat-drought-save-green\/","title":{"rendered":"3 ways pool owners can combat drought – and save green"},"content":{"rendered":"

Governor Jerry Brown recently called California\u2019s drought an \u201cunprecedented serious situation<\/a>,\u201d which in politicalspeak is like screaming fire in crowded theater.\u00a0Forbes <\/a>took the alarm bell and ran with it, posting a provocative editorial headlined \u201cTo End California Drought, Fill More Hollywood And Silicon Valley Swimming Pools.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Far from being pointless formalities, pool covers can save owners thousands of gallons of water. From Valerie Everett<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

As climate change takes deeper hold, drought has become an issue across the Southwest \u2014 exactly where you\u2019ll find the bulk of the nation\u2019s pools. But in the face of this growing crisis, the author<\/a>, a policy wonk with FEMA — not to mention Forbes\u2019 overzealous headline writers — miss the point about water and pools entirely.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s true pools use water and can be energy hogs. Pool owners might feel squeamish about filling up during a drought. But rather than apologize for pools or advocate shutting them down, why not take steps to make pools more sustainable? The <\/span>video<\/a> with this post shows how innovative such answers can be. But there are simple ways to make pools more sustainable, too. Here are three.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Pool covers<\/strong>. One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to save water and energy is with a pool cover. On the water front, covers reduce evaporation<\/a> 90 to 95 percent. During the summer a cover can save 7,000 gallons of water just in reduced evaporation. The U.S. Department of Energy<\/a> also says pool owners can save 50 to 70 percent in heating costs just by using a pool cover.<\/li>\n
  2. Variable speed drive pumps<\/strong><\/a>. All inground swimming pools have pumps. Pumps recirculate the water in a given amount of time depending on the size. But when pools aren\u2019t in use (at night, for instance) pumps don\u2019t need to run as powerfully. Typical pumps don\u2019t have this ability, but variable speed drive pumps do. Just using one on a commercial pool can save more than 80 percent<\/a> in energy costs. Slowing the velocity of the water also reduces evaporation, thus saving water.<\/li>\n
  3. Solar pool heaters<\/strong><\/a>. One of the biggest costs of a pool is heating the water. You can reduce those costs significantly with a solar pool heater. The systems cost just about the same as a heat pump and will pay for themselves in 1.5 to 7 years, depending on size and location, according to the DOE<\/a>. Just as important, they\u2019ll help turn your pool from an energy hog into a shining example of energy efficiency.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n