An agreement between industry, efficiency proponents, and other interested parties regarding the first national energy efficiency standards for pool pumps was recently approved by a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) advisory committee.
There are more than five million inground and 3.5 million above-ground pools in operation in the U.S., and, based on DOE’s analysis, the standards will save more than 400 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity over 30 years of sales or the equivalent amount of electricity used annually by 37 million households, making it one of the biggest energy savings standards completed this year.
Most of the savings will be achieved by replacing standard pumps with variable-speed models that are capable of increasing/decreasing velocity as needed (i.e. speeding up to clean the pool or slowing down and saving energy when filtering the water).
The new standards will cut the energy use for inground pool pumps by approximately 70 per cent, resulting in savings of roughly $2000 on average over the lifetime of the pump. On a national level, consumers will save between $13 and $28 billion with the new standards taking into account pool pumps sold over a 30-year period.
Next, DOE will write a rule based on the recommended standards and publish it for public comment. The new standards were developed after a yearlong series of negotiations between DOE, pool pump manufacturers, motor manufacturers, efficiency supporters, state government, and utilities.
“The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) participated in these negotiations because of its members’ commitment to enhanced energy efficiency standards that benefit consumers and the environment,” says APSP director of government relations, Jennifer Hatfield. “APSP members worked together with one voice and with all stakeholders to come up with a positive outcome for pool owners.”
The standards are scheduled to take effect in 2021.
