New Department of Energy (DOE) regulations which went into effect on July 19, 2021, mean all pool pump manufacturers must comply with new energy efficiency criteria that are based on the metric called weighted energy factor (WEF). WEF is the first industry-wide efficiency metric and will naturally impact both international and Canadian markets as well. It means more pool owners will soon be switching to variable-speed pumps (VSPs) as single-speed pumps fall out of compliance.
In fact, for many pool owners, this may be the first time they have considered the benefits of VSPs and, as a result, may be unaware of the real benefits that come along with installing them. It is also worth noting, because single-speed pumps are the least expensive pump option, having to switch over to a more costly piece of equipment may be a concern for customers—even if it provides more cost savings and improvements to their pool’s quality in the long run.
To help educate and empower pool owners to make the right decision for their new pool pumps, dealers and retailers should take the time to educate pool owners on the details of this new regulation. Additionally, pool builders and retailers should learn more about options available for VSPs and how to communicate the full benefits to their customers, including energy cost savings and improved pool conditions.
DOE domino effect
According to the DOE, energy efficiency is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to combat climate change, reduce energy costs, and improve the environment. However, it is likely the DOE has never crossed a pool owners’ mind. That said, the DOE is partnering with pool industry businesses to develop new, energy-efficient technologies and policies while also finding opportunities to boost the efficiency of current technologies on the market.
Second to heating and cooling, pool pumps can be the highest energy consumer in the house. To combat this issue, the DOE announced its new Dedicated Purpose Pool Pump (DPPP) regulations in 2017, specifically around the minimum energy efficiency of pool pumps which went into effect this past July. With a few exceptions, pool pumps manufactured for use and imported into the United States must meet these new regulations around minimum efficiency, which means most current inground, single-speed pumps will fall out of compliance. The single-speed pumps that meet the energy efficiency requirements may have limited performance for customers’ pools.
In addition to setting a new minimum of efficiency, the DOE is also changing how dealers and retailers label products. Of those items listed on the label, one is most known by professionals: the weighted energy factor (WEF). WEF is a measure of energy efficiency, like kilometres per litre in a car, only for pools. This can help make it easier for a pool owner to understand its importance in the conversation. As retailers know, energy savings and pool performance go beyond measuring WEF. Two additional considerations pool owners should keep in mind when considering pool pumps are the hydraulic horsepower (HHP) and the total horsepower (THP).
