Trend #2: Promoting health benefits
In his keynote address at the 2009 World Aquatic Health Conference (WAHC), Bruce Wigo, president of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, talked about the social history of pools as discussed in Contested Waters, a book by Dr. Jeff Wiltse.
In North America, the 1920s and 1930s saw a boom in the public pool as a social epicentre. As public pools were opened to more and more swimmers, people began abandoning the aquatic facility, opting for a backyard pool of their own. This shift was fueled by strong economic conditions that helped make this dream more affordable. The burgeoning backyard pool industry drove the formation of several organizations that influence the industry to this day. In 1958, Northeast Swimming Pool Association (NSPA), was founded. A year later, the first incarnation of the current Pool & Hot Tub Council of Canada (PHTCC) was formed. The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP), originally known as the National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI), was established, followed by the NSPF in 1965.
When one considers the sociological drivers that led the industry’s formation and growth, the general ignorance about aquatic health benefits among builders, retailers, service companies and manufacturers is not surprising. Unfortunately, this apathy toward aquatic health benefits has resulted in a lack of research the industry is only beginning to reverse in recent years. It was not until 2009 that a research centre focusing exclusively on the benefits of aquatics was formed —The National Aquatic Sports Medicine Institute (NASMI) at Washington State University.
Imagine how these news headlines could empower the industry to attract more people to water:
- ‘Recent Study Finds Swimming May Cut Death Risk’
- ‘A Daily Dip… Could Add Years to Your Life’
These are actual headlines driven by research performed by Dr. Steven Blair and his team at the University of South Carolina. His NSPF-sponsored studies are based on a medical database with the health histories of about 80,000 people, followed for 37 years. The second headline was in AARP: The Magazine, the largest print publication in the world, with readership of about 35 million. Getting the word out about aquatic health benefits to as many people as possible, in forums such as these, is the key to raising awareness among customers.
Trend #3: Energy efficiency
People will continue to value the health and safety of their families, even in the face of tighter economic times. As such, there will also be a greater focus on conservation for pools, spas and aquatic facilities. Without financial security, customers and prospects cannot provide for their families. As a result, conservation is emerging as an important trend, one that will help customers keep aquatics as a part of their life, even while pinching pennies.
When considering the financial impact pools and spas/hot tubs have on society, conservation can encompass many areas. For example, efforts to minimize energy consumption are becoming commonplace in current educational programs and are set to become mainstream in pool and hot tub design and renovation. Shifting to larger plumbing sizes and using pump innovations, such as variable-speed motors, will also help reduce energy costs. Air and water heat transfer systems will become more prominent, allowing more air turnover in indoor facilities. Filtration systems that maintain water quality while conserving will also gain greater prominence, even while those savings are weighed against the need to improve water quality.
