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Research shows that pool and spa customers throughout the world are getting desperate for energy efficient products.
In the United States, the leading association – the APSP – has launched new energy standards for residential swimming pools and hot tubs. The new standard is a total systems approach that provides energy efficiency performance specifications for swimming pool filtration systems. It provides uniform testing and reporting
specifications for equipment manufacturers as well as design and installation specifications suitable for use by pool professionals, in building codes, and regulations. It will enable the pool pump manufacturers who are building energy efficient pool pumps to report publicly pump performance data on the APSP website.
In another development a US coast to coast series of seminars is being organised to promote energy efficiency to pool owners.
QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT OFFERS SPECIAL TARIFF FOR POOLS
The Queensland Government in Australia is helping pool owners connect to cheaper tariffs and buy multi-speed or variable drive pool pumps. The Pool Pump Energy Efficiency Programme offers incentives to residential pool owners to assist in connecting their pool pump to the cheaper tariffs through a standard socket or to install a more energy efficient variable or multi-speed drive pool pump system.
Queensland Minister for Energy Stephen Robertson says both options could bring about significant savings to the electricity costs associated with running a pool while also helping to tackle peak demand. He said using the state approved tariff identified swimming pool users as a group which were desperately seeking to reduce energy costs or close down the pool as being too expensive to operate.
MORE POOLS CLOSED IN US ‘GET TOUGH’ POLICY ON ANTI SUCTION DRAINS
A new wave of closures has shocked pool owners throughout the United States after a new crackdown on pools still not complying with a four year old law on drain cover regulations. It is thought over 2,500 pools were forced to close in October throughout the US as Department of Health officials introduced a new ‘get tough’ policy on pools which had failed to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act which set new standards for drains to be fitted with anti suction devices. Swimming pool owners and managers who had failed for whatever reason to apply the new drains had been given a 1 October deadline. A Federal Health Department spokesman said: “We have been aware for some time that there were a large number of pools who had not met the legal requirements. We understand the costs and difficulties involved in some cases so we offered some flexibility. However that flexibility ended at the beginning of October. Prior to the final letter on 3 October, pools received two warning letters, notifying administrators that if the pools were not in compliance the pools were in danger of shutdown.
One example of the problems caused by non compliance came in Illinois where the local state officials shut down hundreds of pools. Pool owners said they had been working hard to get permits to complete the new drain regulations, which include installation of devices that can stop motors when an entrapment sensor is activated. There had been a 12 month delay in getting the permits which caused the problem. The new drain requirement — signed into law in 2007 — was spurred by the 2002 death of 7-year- old Virginia Graeme Baker, who drowned after she was trapped by the suction from a hot tub drain. State law requires anti-entrapment drain covers and other safety devices. Once the drains are installed, each state health department has to inspect them before the pools can be re-opened. The process of inspection has been critisised for being slow. Since it became a legal requirement thousands of pools have been closed down and forced to upgrade and install legal drains in what is the biggest legal requirement US swimming pools have ever faced.
WorldNews DEC 2011 SPN POOL AND SPA OWNERS ‘DESPERATE’ FOR ENERGY SAVINGS
Energy experts aim to train pool professionals to work together on improving the eco-friendliness of their projects.
Awareness of the energy-saving potential of pools has begun to grow in the US but the APSP knows that more needs to be done. Pool builders want to help homeowners with swimming pools to think beyond the walls and roof of the house, and work with pool professionals on evaluating and improving pool energy usage.
HIGH LEVEL HOT TUBBING!
Daredevils took a dip in a hot tub suspended 150m above the ground in Switzerland.
The breathtaking stunt was organised by a group of ‘extreme jacuzzi’ fanatics who dangled 39 metres off the side of the spectacular 189 metre Gueuroz Bridge using cables and ropes.
The 25 participants abseiled on to the platform to enjoy the hot tub and a breathtaking view of Trient Gorge, complete with champagne and cake. It took six hours to assemble the makeshift hot tub and about 2,500 hours to plan the mission. Water was heated in a second hot tub on the bridge and lowered onto the platform where a gas-powered system kept it warm.
The group, from Switzerland, has been organising this extreme hot tub participation for 10 years and have scaled 4,572m summits in the Alps and Andes in their hunt for the perfect hot tub experience. In 2007 they enjoyed the world’s highest hot tub at the summit of Mont Blanc, Europe’s biggest mountain.
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BAD WEATHER FAILS TO DAMPEN SUCCESS OF SPLASH! NEW ZEALAND Some of the worst weather in Wellington 75 years failed to affect the success of the first ever SPLASH! swimming pool and spa exhibition in the New Zealand capital.
The SPLASH! brand of trade shows in Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific locations is fast becoming a success story for the specialist trade. The New Zealand show was described as an enthusiastic and intimate event. One visitor said the show was like a large family get together.
“It was a great success and exactly what the trade in New Zealand needs to keep on developing.
Heavy snow, winds and unusually low temperatures hit Wellington over the course of the exhibition.
“This year’s SPLASH! New Zealand was always intended to be a more intimate event, and had a stronger focus on the commercial and aquatics sector than our usual shows,” said Simon Cooper, Director of Interpoint events and organiser of SPLASH! New Zealand. “The dramatic weather events did affect some visitor turnout – nonetheless, the show was a success.” Hugh Smith of sponsor Pentair Water Pool & Spa, says he was pleasantly surprised by the activity at the show. “It started a bit on the slow side and I am sure that was due to the weather, but as the first day wore on many folks braved the weather and came by. The second day was great. Overall I was pleasantly surprised and happy we contributed.”
The next SPLASH! Pool and SPA Trade Show will be on Australia’s Gold Coast on 25 and 26 July in 2012.
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