What pool pros need to know about weighted energy factor pump regulations

by jason_cramp | February 10, 2021 4:03 pm

By Scott Petty

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The upcoming U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) regulations for pool pumps will change the industry more than any other issue in recent memory. All manufacturers—domestic and foreign—must comply with the regulations that go into effect on July 19, 2021. Products made before this date can be sold throughout the channel, and existing inventory does not need to be returned.  However, all pumps made after this date must meet the new DOE energy efficiency criteria.

These requirements are based on a new metric named weighted energy factor (WEF). WEF is the first industry-wide efficiency metric and will naturally impact both international and Canadian markets as well. The new WEF rating will be physically labelled on most pumps imported into the market after July 19, 2021, which will allow users to easily compare energy efficiency to other models. As consumers are becoming more educated on performance and the total cost of ownership of a pump purchase, WEF is an easy way to evaluate and compare the energy efficiency of pool pumps and will cultivate a new standard for evaluating efficiency worldwide.

DOE-compliant pumps provide the same installation and performance requirements needed to successfully operate pools and spas while delivering significant energy savings and noticeably quieter operation, too.

Background

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Pool pumps often consume the second largest amount of household energy after heating and air conditioning and, as a result, have been part of pool efficiency measures for some time. The origins of WEF can largely be traced to the California Energy Commission’s (CEC’s) Appliance Efficiency Regulations, often referred to as ‘Title 20,’ that have been in place for pool pumps for more than a decade. While Title 20 prescriptively requires the type of pump motor used (two or more speeds for 1.0 total horsepower [HP] and above), it also requires manufacturers to provide data on each listed model including energy factor, which is the ratio of flow divided by power and where higher is better (more efficient). Energy factor is effectively how much water (flow) a pump can provide for a given amount of energy consumption.

The development of the DOE regulation started in 2015, and it was soon noted that energy factor, while useful, could be a misleading value as there are no limitations on how it is measured. For instance, it could be calculated at a speed that delivers an impractical flow such as 38 litres per minute (lpm) (10 gallons per minute [gpm]) or less. This led to the development of WEF, which is the weighted mix of energy factors at different speeds along with minimum flow requirements. The WEF for a single-speed pump is the same as energy factor, since there is only one speed at which to measure. For two-speed and variable-speed pumps (VSPs), WEF is weighted at 80 per cent of the low speed energy factor and 20 per cent of high speed.

Similar to other industries

[3]Many other industries use minimum efficiency requirements and have, in turn, developed efficiency metrics that are a key factor in product selection. Notable examples similar to WEF are miles per gallon (mpg) for vehicles or seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) for air conditioning units. Mpg is a vehicle’s efficiency and is calculated by dividing the distance driven by the amount of fuel consumed. The further one can drive on a tank of gas, the more efficient the vehicle. Air conditioning (AC) units now have a SEER calculated by dividing the amount of cooling produced (British thermal unit [Btu]) by the amount of electricity (watts) used. The more cooling produced by a watt of electricity, the more efficient the AC unit.

Both mpg and SEER are based on a standard set of conditions to assure consistency in measurements and, in turn, comparisons between products. This means the base product is efficient, but its actual energy consumption is determined by usage—the energy bill depends as much on what temperature one sets the AC as the SEER rating. Under the same conditions, a pool  pump with a higher WEF will save more energy—and money—than a pump with a lower WEF. There is no doubt manufacturers will strive to improve their WEF efficiency ratings as product technologies and innovations continue to evolve and move forward.

What makes a good WEF

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WEF is a weighted mix at different speeds (high and low) when applicable. For a given pump design, the WEF for a two-speed pump will be higher than a single-speed pump because it can take into account the higher energy factor at low speed. In turn, a comparable VSP will have an even higher WEF, assuming it can operate below 50 per cent of maximum speed and still meet the minimum flow requirements.

The DOE does not actually specify VSPs must be used for self-priming (e.g. inground) applications. Instead, it requires a minimum WEF that, above a certain size (flow) and based on today’s technology, only a VSP will comply with. This performance-based metric encourages manufactures to continue developing more efficient products, rather than being required to follow a purely prescriptive approach.

Since WEF is the measure of energy efficiency, it makes sense a VSP would carry a higher rating than a single-speed pump. But what makes the WEF of one VSP different from another?

WEF is the overall efficiency of a pool pump which, in turn, consists of the electrical (e.g. motor) and hydraulic (wet end) system. Most VSPs in the market are based on existing single-speed designs, often with the same hydraulics but a new variable-speed motor and drive. Understandably, it is the new motor and drive that gathers attention as they, by changing speed, deliver tremendous energy savings versus a single-speed pump that runs at 100 per cent all of the time. Often, the biggest difference between individual variable-speed models is the efficiency of the wet end—how well it converts the energy from the pump’s motor into moving water.

According to the regulations, pumps will still have HP ratings, but using a different method than what has traditionally been used in most pool markets.

A horse by any other name

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Pumps and motors have long been rated in terms of HP along with an associated service factor. Unfortunately, this has led to disparities within the industry where certain markets use full-rate models (higher service factor, lower rated HP) or max-rate/up-rate versions (lower service factor, higher rated HP). The DOE regulation requires manufacturers to only rate and label pumps using total HP (THP), which is the HP based on a fixed service factor of 1.0. This will eliminate the full-rate and max-rate methodology and create a consistent comparison across models.

Another new term from the regulation is hydraulic HP (HHP), which is not the same as THP as it is directly proportional to pump head and flow. Unlike WEF and THP, the DOE does not require manufacturers to label HHP on the product, since its primary use is in the calculation of the minimum WEF manufacturers must meet to comply with the regulation.

Higher efficiency does not equal limited performance. Energy-efficient vehicles may bring to mind the original hybrids from 10 years ago that may have sacrificed acceleration for the sake of energy conservation. Superior products, whether vehicles, AC units, or pool pumps, deliver efficiency and performance that complement one another instead of sacrificing one for the sake of the other.

How to use WEF

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WEF is another aspect pool professionals should consider when selecting a pump for a given application. One still needs to factor in standard issues such as plumbing size, head and flow requirements, and physical footprint, the same as has always been done for both new and replacement installations. WEF allows pool pros to easily evaluate and compare the energy efficiency of pool pumps and, in turn, provide the best solutions for the consumer.

The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry has already gone through the shift to minimum efficiency requirements on how to leverage efficiency ratings. For example, a homeowner needed to purchase a new AC unit and, like many, they wanted to balance energy savings with the out-of-pocket expense. They relied on the contractor’s experience with different brands and sizing the unit; however, the contractor also provided options on different SEER ratings so the client could make an informed decision about energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency is not the only factor to consider, but it is important and should not be ignored. Pool builders, service professionals, and retailers can gain an advantage by proactively educating their customers about the new DOE standards and WEF ratings. Selling DOE-compliant pumps—many of which will be variable-speed models—is a win-win scenario for pool professionals and consumers. When it comes to selling compliant VSPs, pool pros will benefit financially because of their higher price point, while consumers will save energy and money from the increased efficiency—plus, they will enjoy other benefits, such as quieter operation. Compliance with the new DOE regulations is mandatory, so it is beneficial to prepare early and maximize selling opportunities.

Key takeaways

The DOE is regulating pools pumps, and WEF will be the primary basis for compliance and the measure of overall energy efficiency. DOE-compliant pumps provide the same installation and performance requirements needed to successfully operate pools and spas while delivering significant energy savings. Just as mpg ratings led consumers to choose more efficient vehicles, WEF labelling is expected to increase consumer preference and sales of energy-efficient pool pumps.

[7]Scott Petty is the global product manager for pumps at Hayward Industries, and has been instrumental in the development and guidance of the new regulatory requirements along with other partnering manufacturers. For more information, visit hayward.com/regulations[8].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/features/expert-advice/weighted-energy-factor-pump-regulations/

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