There’s no doubt about it – you love your pool. But does your pool love the ground?

Chances are pool technology has evolved since your pool was installed.

This means there are upgrades and add-ons available to make your pool not only more efficient but also more environmentally friendly. Let’s look at some green, eco-friendly pool options to improve your pool:

Variable speed pumps

It’s tempting to save on your pool pump. After all, a single-speed pump will do the job, right? And it’s a few thousand dollars cheaper than the better variable speed model.

The single-speed pump is a traditional pool pump that has been used for decades. Turn it on and it runs at a constant speed. It is the cheapest to buy. But it’s also noisy and inefficient.

It runs at one speed – high – whether high speed is needed or not. This means you’re paying for high speed even if you don’t need it.

The variable speed pump allows you to adjust the speed exactly to the desired flow rate – from off to high and many speeds in between. A variable-speed pump runs quieter, stays cooler, and lasts longer. And most importantly, it consumes much less energy.

Low voltage, LED lights

Don’t forget lighting in your pool sustainability plan. LED underwater lights for pools and spas are much more energy efficient than traditional incandescent and halogen pool lights.

LED pool lights use a fraction of the wattage of halogen lights to produce the same amount of light. And LEDs are more durable – lasting up to 10 times longer than the traditional bulbs that can now illuminate your pool.

This also applies to landscape lighting that surrounds your pool.

Electric heat pumps

Gas pool heaters are the cheapest option upfront, so it’s tempting to go for it. They eliminate the need for a gas connection, which helps offset the cost of the unit. Gas heaters can heat the body of your pool to three times faster than an electric heat pump — but they also use up to three times more energy. So while gas heaters are cheaper upfront, they are more expensive to run over time. Gas heaters are recommended for spas. Electric heat pumps take too long to heat water.

In the long run, an electric heat pump is better, as it uses less energy overall than a comparable gas heater. The difference is substantial.

Pool automation

Pool automation has become increasingly sophisticated over the years. Not only does it save you time and effort, it saves energy, which means it’s better for the environment. We see this happening all the time.

Automated systems can control everything from disinfection to heating to turning on lights and water features. They are set up to make adjustments when needed to work more efficiently than when you operate them manually. If you don’t use your heat pump all the time, your bill will be lower, just as a programmable home thermostat saves you money on your energy bill.

It’s common to leave various pool systems—heaters, filters, lights—on more often than necessary. Have you ever turned on your pool heater and then forgot to turn it off? Automation systems leave them on only for as long as necessary.

Chlorine salt generator

The salt chlorine generator used in saltwater pools has revolutionized pool maintenance and is also good for the environment. This pool disinfection system uses common table salt to produce all the chlorine your pool needs, safely, efficiently, and automatically.

Pool owners often add too much chlorine to their pools. With a salt chlorine generator, there is no need to add any chlorine tablets, liquids, or granules. Less chlorine consumption means less chlorine production. And that means less chemical processing, emissions, and energy consumption.

Geothermal and Solar Heating

If you’re on the cutting edge of environmental protection and already heat your home with a geothermal heating and cooling system—or your new home plans to include one—it’s easy to connect to your home system and heat your pool that way.

Geothermal pool heat pumps work with stable ground temperatures and ensure the heating of your pool throughout the swimming season. It is the most ecological way of heating the pool.

Isn’t that advanced? There are hybrid versions that involve running pipes under your patio to take advantage of solar heating. The sun-baked terrace heats the pool, and the water flowing under the terrace cools its surface a little.

Note that this doesn’t provide enough heat to heat your hot tub, but it will keep your pool water cool.

Automatic covering of pools

Covering swimming pools is not just for winter. Every day your pool is left uncovered, some of that refreshing water evaporates – yikes! Then you have to replace it. That’s just a waste.

But energy is a big saving. Covers keep the heat inside, meaning your heater has to work less. Eighty percent of heat is lost at night. During the day, the pool cover acts as a solar cover creating a greenhouse effect that helps reduce heat loss.

Pool covers are also for safety. They keep unwanted animals out of the pool and reduce the risk of children falling into the pool.

Pool Filters: Cartridge vs. Diatomaceous Earth or Sand

Pool owners tend to have favorites when it comes to pool filters. Some people say that sand is the cheapest, so they like it. Others swear that diatomaceous earth (DE) produces the clearest water, so it’s their choice.

If saving water is important to you, a cartridge filter is the most efficient choice. Unlike sand and DE filters, cartridge filters do not use a backwash method for cleaning, which uses extra water. When it’s time to clean the cartridges, just remove them and wash them.

Ecological swimming pool

NZRA Landscapes has been working in swimming pool maintenance services in Dubai for 7 years with Professional work in the market. Our experts would love to talk to you about some simple pool improvements that will make your pool green.