Backyard swimming pools are much loved by many Australians, who relish the chance to cool off whenever they need an escape from the harsh Aussie heat. But while they’re undoubtedly a refreshing escape on a hot day, they can also be a drain on the environment. For starters, a pool takes a fair bit of energy to heat and maintain it, plus it uses a lot of chemicals to keep the water clean and safe for human use. And then there’s all the water required to fill it up, and that’s not to mention all the extra water you’ll use on a regular basis to keep your pool topped up.
There’s no getting around it, pools are not high on the eco-credentials. But if you still want to enjoy your pool conscience-free, there are plenty of ways you can make your pool much more environmentally friendly.
But first, what makes an environmentally friendly pool?
To increase the eco-friendliness of your pool, you have to consider two main factors: water conservation and energy efficiency – because traditional pools consume a lot of both. Water is obviously a given in a pool, but this valuable resource is regularly depleted through evaporation, splashes and sometimes leaks. Pools need regular top-ups, as they can evaporate or otherwise lose up to twice their volume of water each year. Plus, they’re heavy on the energy use too – through heating, cleaning, water circulation and lights. To reduce the environmental impact of your pool, you need to consider concrete ways to increase the water conservation and energy efficiency of your pool – like these.
Use water-neutral technology
Water-neutral pools are the modern way to reduce the environmental footprint of a pool and also deliver great cost savings for the owner. Water-neutral technology uses a combination of water-harvesting devices and water-saving devices to reduce the amount of water required and deliver a healthy dose of conscience-saving as well as cost-saving. Devices such as water tanks (which collect rainwater which is then used to top up the pool) and backwash-minimisation systems (which reduce the overall amount of water needed for a pool) help deliver these environmental and cost savings through reduced water, energy and chemical use.
Always use a pool cover
Swimming pool covers work well to insulate the pool, retain heat in winter and maintain the chemical balance effectively. Always cover your pool when it’s not being used to help retain heat and save on heating costs in winter, and to help keep the pool protected from the hot sun in summer (particularly in the Brisbane climate). Pool covers also reduce the rate of water evaporation, meaning significantly less water will be required to top up the pool. The use of a pool cover will amount to a significant water and energy saving, so is well worth doing.
Use solar power
Solar power is one of the most eco-friendly ways to heat your pool – and it won’t cost the earth either. Solar pool systems will absorb sunlight and convert it into heat, thus keeping your pool at a comfortable temperature without having to rely on energy-guzzling heaters. Solar technology continues to get cheaper, and a few extra solar panels will cover the cost of running your pool. Once the initial installation costs are paid, solar power will end up saving you money as well.
Light it up responsibly
Lights are necessary around a pool – and after all, there’s nothing quite like an evening pool party or just a simple dip to cool down after a long, hot day. Pool lighting can guzzle a lot of energy, however, so it’s wise to invest in more eco-friendly lighting technology. Older pools often come with traditional halogen globe lighting, which is not energy efficient compared to modern options and will consume significantly more energy. Instead, get a qualified electrician to switch your lighting over to LED bulbs, which use a quarter of the power of traditional halogen bulbs. They’ll also last longer, saving your money on replacement bulbs, and are easy to automate and set on a timer.
Porous paving
Porous paving is another useful strategy to reduce the environmental footprint of your pool, and is one that many pool owners are increasingly turning to nowadays. For the uninitiated, porous paving is a permeable pavement surface that allows water to drain through the surface into the ground. This helps reduce water run-off and promote infiltration into the ground where it’s most needed. This effective alternative to traditional impermeable pavement surfaces like concrete or stone (which prevent water from penetrating into the ground) allows pool owners to passively manage water run-off and infiltration in a sustainable way.
As well, porous paving is incredibly useful around pools because of the sheer amount of water that finds its way out of the pool. Puddles on pool decks are very common, and not only do they waste water (that later needs to be replaced in the pool), they also create a potential slip hazard. Porous paving does away with this problem, as it allows water from the pool to quickly drain through the surface and into the ground below.
To make it even more environmentally conscious, porous paving will last a long time too, as it’s not adversely affected by long-term exposure to salt water, chlorine or other chemicals. You won’t need to replace it very often, and with a little bit of maintenance to keep the pavement working well, you’ll be able to reap the environmental benefits of a porous pavement for quite some time.
Creating an eco-friendly pool doesn’t have to be daunting. With a few tweaks to your pool environment and process, you can have a pool that’s good for the environment – and your hip pocket.
Have a look at Heritage Tree Care’s environmentally friendly porous pool pavers here.
How do you maintain porous paving around a pool?