Even with all the concerns about California's drought, carbon emissions, chemical usage, and other environmental issues, pool owners have little reason to feel politically-incorrect about enjoying their summer months around the sparkling oasis. New developments in swimming pool construction and maintenance can provide years of guilt-free enjoyment that no longer taxes the Earth's resources. Even updates to existing swimming pools, some large and some small, can bring your home up-to-speed where making environmentally-conscious choices is concerned.
For starters, let's look at the good news. Although the California drought is a very real issue and poses an ethical slant on landscape architecture and pool building, there are no bans on swimming pools. More good news: technology has made swimming pools much easier on both the environment and the human body, making excessive energy usage and overly-chlorinated skin and eye irritation a thing of the past. And, the kicker to the good news section: swimming pools use substantially less water than planted and landscaped areas of similar square footage. A swimming pool can be a conscientious addition to your home environment, especially if you go into it with a little eco-tech-savvy. Here are some tips for doing your part, without having to give up a classic summertime luxury.
Evaporation is the biggest cause of water and heating loss. Using a cover when the pool is not in use is a low-impact, high-yield measure for reducing water and energy usage, keeping the water in the pool as well as maintaining temperature beneath the cover itself. You can save yourself a whole 10 degrees this way, which translates to the potential of a 90% savings on heating costs. Additionally, when choosing a cover, you might like to consider that if you have children, a hard, non-permeable cover adds an additional safety barrier between your child and the water. This tip is win-win.
Energy efficiency. Efficiency pumps can be easily installed and are a great way to update an existing swimming pool system. Solar panels are the next level of energy-efficiency, functioning similarly to a garden hose left in the yard, where the sun has heated its contents within hoses in the solar panels and they are delivered to the pool.
Absorption. A darker-colored pool surface will keep the heat in more easily than a white, pale, or reflective surface. Natural stones retain warmth, as do graphite, dark blue, and black-colored pool bottoms.
Computerized utilities. Many of today's homes have lighting and other systems connected to computerized controls that can be accessed from many rooms. Pool controls can be incorporated into the system, allowing for control over when the equipment is running or not.
Salt water systems. Modern water systems do not dry out the skin, hair and eyes of swimmers, nor do they add chemical toxins into the atmosphere. Additionally, they eliminate a homeowner's need for storing and maintaining chemical supplies. Here's how they work: using a small electric current, salt systems allow the pool to create its own chlorine by breaking down water into its basic elements, hydrogen and oxygen. These elements, if you combine them with table salt, create chlorine that establishes an algae and bacteria-free environment for the pool. The system later converts chlorine back into salt and repeats the process so the salt is always present. Heavy pools users may find they need to replenish salt twice a year or so, since water will splash out and evaporate.
Remember, you shouldn't have to replace more than 6 or 7 inches of pool water per month, even when the little ones are splashing "cannonballs" in the heat of summer. If you find yourself constantly refilling the pool, consider checking for a leak.
It's easy to live the "good life" without guilt nowadays. A little research, know-how, and adjustment a can make your home more than just your nest, but a statement that you're doing your part.