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Swimming pool
10 ways to Green Your Swimming pool
When the Romans invented the pool, and generations after them interpreted it, the experience of swimming was intended to be as natural as water itself. But with chemical-bound materials everywhere in pools, that experience has been compromised along with the environment. Today there is a new generation of natural, environmentally friendly approaches to pools.
Use natural alternatives to pool chemicals
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Today’s options include underwater emitters that use sound waves to keep algae from growing; special plants that eliminate contaminants; saltwater that produces natural chlorine; and ionizers that use metals, ozone, or ultraviolet light.
Create a natural swimming pool
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These pools are built using natural materials rather than manufactured products and chemicals.
Use environmentally friendly materials for your pool
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Among these are tiles made from recycled glass and water-based pool paint that reduces outgassing of chemicals.
Heat your pool with solar energy
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Solar panels use the sun's warmth to supply heat.
Light your pool with fiber optics
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They save energy and all the electronics are located outside the water for safety.
Choose energy-efficient pool appliances
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Heaters, filters, pumps, and timers all use energy, so buy the most efficient ones possible.
Cover your pool
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A good cover reduces water and heat evaporation by up to 95 percent.
Maintain your pool with energy-efficient methods
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Using smaller, higher-efficiency elements; setting them on automatic time clocks; and keeping them clean and from leaking can reduce energy output by as much as 75 percent.
Share a pool with neighbors
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You get to share the costs and gain a sense of community.
Landscape close to your pool
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Splashed-out and run-off water will keep plants watered without using additional resources, and the pool will additionally take on a more natural look.
Comments
8:46am
Pool filter question: The energy cost to keep my filter on even 12 hrs a day is astronimical! Anyone know what the min # hrs/day I can keep it on w/out algae build up or other probs?
2:11pm
standard pool filters do require a lot of energy. Our swimming pond designs http://www.aquahabitat.com/swimming.ponds.html are much more efficient, using about the same power as a standard light buld.
The energy figures in the article need a bit of clarification. This is an individual choice, but most pools and swimming ponds that reach 80 degrees F are not going to be heated when they are that warm. While I understand the latent energy of evaporation, the example should have been expressed only for cold weather months, not year around. Again, it depends on location as most temperate climate ponds and pools are not heated during winter.
The evaporation comparison to lawns is also very highly variable. Climate and soil type will drastically affect evaporation, seepage and evapotranspiration in lawns. A lawn can use more water than a pool / pond, but it can also use less.
2:22pm
For those with traditional swimming pools who would like to reduce their chlorine levels, we do offer cost effective alterntives.
For those interested in going to totally natural swimming ponds http://www.aquahabitat.com/ponds/ponds.html
We welcome you to come see photos of what is possible at http://www.tinyurl.com/pondphotos