Page 25 - Advanced Technology for Energy and Water Saving

POWERING DOWN

Smaller, Variable-Speed Pool Pumps Pay Off

Newer Energy Star-certified and smaller-sized pumps operate at a
fraction of the energy of older pump systems.

OLDER POOL PUMPS OFTEN OPERATE AT A SINGLE SPEED, 24 hours a day, wasting a large amount of energy. New
pumps are smaller and “smarter.” According to Inyopools.com, “The energy savings that are gained by replacing a
single-speed pump with either a dual-speed or variable-speed pump are based on an engineering principle known as
the Pump Affinity Law. This principle states that the energy savings are disproportionately larger as you lower the
speed of your pump. For example: If you reduce the RPMs of your pump by 50 percent, you don’t get a 50 percent
energy savings—you actually get a 75 percent energy savings. And lowering your RPM by 66 percent gives you an
89 percent energy savings.”

WARM CLIMATES
Pump Type Energy Use per Year Cost to Operate Savings per Year Average Payback Time

Single-Speed Pump 4714 kWh $613 — —
Dual-Speed Pump 2521 kWh $327 $373 6 Months

Variable-Speed Pump 948 kWh $123 $640 15 Months
Note: Example above is using national average for electricity of 12.29 kWh. If you live in a state with expensive electricity, like California,
your savings will be far greater. Calculate exactly how much your pool pump will cost to operate in your state. Source: inyopools.com

Single-Speed Pumps
According to Energy.gov, “a 0.75-horsepower or smaller pump is generally sufficient for residential pools. Smaller pumps,
which cost less, can be used if you decrease the pool circulation system’s hydraulic resistance by doing the following:
■ Substituting a large filter (rated to at least 50 percent higher than the pool’s design flow rate)
■
■ Increasing the diameter or decreasing the length of the pipes, or replacing abrupt 90-degree elbow pipes with
■
45-degree ones or flexible pipes.
■ By decreasing the pool circulation system’s hydraulic resistance, you can reduce the pump’s electricity use by up to
■
40 percent.” Source: Energy.gov

SAVINGS FROM PUMP CONSERVATION MEASURES

Condition Energy Use (KWH/Year) Cost of Energy ($/Year) Energy Savings

Original 3000 240 —
Pump replacement (downsizing) 1800 140 40%

Reduced time (60%) 1200 100 60%
Combination of above 750 60 75
Table courtesy of Home Energy magazine.

Major improvement. This chart shows the results of a study of 120 typical pools by the Center for Energy Conservation at Florida
Atlantic University. Note that some owners saved 75 percent on their electric pumping bill, simply by using smaller pumps and running
them less. Source: Home Energy magazine

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FOR ENERGY AND WATER CONSERVATION 25