Green and Clean Blue Pools

My sister has wanted a pool for I don’t know how long. She wants to look out at water and to make her backyard a relaxing, serene oasis for her and her family. I on the other hand, always think about cost and maintenance and the effect on the environment. The amount of energy a pool takes is incredible, the water needs to pumped and filtered- and not only that the chemicals!

I just Gotta Tell Ya

• Recent findings have even linked regular swimming in a chlorine pool to the development of asthma in small children
• There are more than 7 Million private swimming pools in America today
• The average private swimming pool uses 18,000- 20,000 gallons of water.
• The typical uncovered pool in Arizona loses 4-6 feet of water per year to evaporation.
• Losing an inch of water a day can add up to 102,000 gallons of lost water per year.
• One pool alone emits three to 10 tons of carbon dioxide each swimming season- which is like not driving your car for a year.
• The annual cost for heating a pool is $2,000 (about the same cost as installing solar)
• An outdoor pool loses 70% of its energy through evaporation; covering the pool when not in use can bring 50%-70% energy savings according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Top 9 Ways to Reduce and Save on Your Pool

1. Check your Pump- pumps are becoming more energy efficient. Look for Applied Research Laboratories stamp, which means it meets US Standards for saving energy.
2. Buy a timer for both the pump and the filter- which will assure they run when you want them too.
3. Fix Leaks- mark the waterline with a grease pencil and check it in 24 hours, to determine if you have a leak.
4. Clean Filters and Pumps for maximum efficiency. Consider installing diatomaceous earth (DE) filters, which only need to be cleaned about 4x per year.
5. Homeowners can greatly reduce the electricity used by their pool by installing a variable-speed pool pump.
6. Reduce the temperature and the number of months you heat your pool
7. Create a windbreak with native plants to help reduce cooling and evaporation. Plants also absorb some carbon dioxide from common chemicals. You can even create a water cleaning system for your pool water using certain flora such as irises, cattails, arrowroot and reeds
8. Use a pool cover- consider a  solar pool cover. Not only are you helping to heat the water, but you’re reducing the need for chemicals and lowering evaporation by up to 95%
9. Green the Chemicals

Putting in a Pool? Consider the below

Solar Powered Pool –Solar energy can lower monthly electric bills by $50 to $100. Payback of 18 to 24 months.

Natural Pools-Forget chemicals all together and put in a ‘natural pool’. These pools use no chlorine and should blend into the landscape- utilize plants to clean. For 23 great ideas go to Green Homes

Salt Pools-Consider switching to salt water. The absence of chemicals means it’s more gentle on the skin, and the salt helps keep the pool naturally clean and algae-free, translating to less money and less maintenance. For more information check out Casual Living.

Where to Find

• Eco Smart Pools– non-salt, non- chlorine and chemical free pools
• Viking Pools- non-porous finish – which means less chemicals are needed because algae is less prone to attach.
• Find Solar– database of Solar professionals endorsed by the US Department of Energy.
• Natural Swimming Pools- self sufficient pools, utilizing plants to clean

Chlorine Replacement

• Nature2- Natural mineral base pool sanitizers free of chemical odors-
• Orenda Technologies
• Floatron Real Goods- kills algae without chemicals- $269

Solar Heating

• Solar Pool Heating Standard Kit-$370.00. Do it Yourself kit that can be installed in the yard or the roof.

Solar Pool Covers

• Solar Sphere Covers – carries conventional solar covers and smaller solar heat attractors that come in multiple shapes in case you don’t wanna spring for a whole cover ($25-$429).
• Leslies Pools-Thermo-Tex Solar Covers – Low-density polyethylene that’s lightweight and easy to handle ($43-$299).
• Speciality Pool Products Solar Blankets – covers made from sealed air bubble material Choose your pool shape and size and it’ll give you three solar cover options in varying thicknesses ($25-$575)

Resources

• Practical Environmentalist