Make your pool more eco-friendly this summer

As consumers look for ways to have fun while saving money this summer, improving the energy efficiency of backyard pools can make a big difference.

A standard-sized pool often uses about 15 kilowatts of energy each day, much of that from the pool pump. Pool lights and heaters can also be updated for energy savings because newer models are often significantly more efficient. An added advantage is that LED bulbs last about 10 times as long as typical fluorescent bulbs, so they require changing far less often.

Heating pools with solar panels is another energy efficient trend on the rise. After an initial investment of about $5,000 for pools around 25,000 gallons, in some cases solar panels can provide considerable savings compared to gas or propane heaters. Even traditional heaters made within the past ten years can use up to 40% less energy than older models.

Chemicals are another environmental concern related to pool maintenance. Chlorine is widely used and considered relatively safe, but other pool treatment methods are gaining popularity. Ozone is effective at killing bacteria and can reduce the need for chlorine, and salt-activated systems are also effective and are often touted as less abrasive.

An alternative to pool chemicals popular in Europe is known as "biological filtration" because the process uses plant life to clean the water naturally. Aquatic plants such as lilies and reeds grow in the pool and replace the use of chemicals.

However, the American Chemistry Council says it's important to stress that the suggested alternatives to chlorine should not be used as complete replacements, only as supplemental treatments.

"Ozone treats water as it flows through the system, but can’t disinfect as it comes into contact with germs in the pool," a rep from the council informs us. "Salt treatments produce chlorine from salt and electricity—the chemistry is the same."

Make your pool more eco-friendly this summer

As consumers look for ways to have fun while saving money this summer, improving the energy efficiency of backyard pools can make a big difference.

A standard-sized pool often uses about 15 kilowatts of energy each day, much of that from the pool pump. Pool lights and heaters can also be updated for energy savings because newer models are often significantly more efficient. An added advantage is that LED bulbs last about 10 times as long as typical fluorescent bulbs, so they require changing far less often.

Heating pools with solar panels is another energy efficient trend on the rise. After an initial investment of about $5,000 for pools around 25,000 gallons, in some cases solar panels can provide considerable savings compared to gas or propane heaters. Even traditional heaters made within the past ten years can use up to 40% less energy than older models.

Chemicals are another environmental concern related to pool maintenance. Chlorine is widely used and considered relatively safe, but other pool treatment methods are gaining popularity. Ozone is effective at killing bacteria and can reduce the need for chlorine, and salt-activated systems are also effective and are often touted as less abrasive.

An alternative to pool chemicals popular in Europe is known as "biological filtration" because the process uses plant life to clean the water naturally. Aquatic plants such as lilies and reeds grow in the pool and replace the use of chemicals.

Airports launch eco-friendly efforts to go green

Boston's Logan airport has set an example for various other U.S. airports by going green.

In an effort to save on energy costs and impress the travelers landing into or passing through the airport, a number of measures have been implemented. Hybrid taxicabs, wind turbines, solar plates and low-flush toilets have been introduced as some of the measures to make the aiport more eco-friendly.

With the recent rise in oil prices these measures to conserve energy has become a more urgent matter.

Although certain techniques to conserve energy that have been introduced are new, most of the others had been implemented at the airport for a long time now, such as more glass windows in order to have more natural light in the airport, low-wattage bulbs used for lighting and the usage of recycled materials during the construction of the airport.

A number of U.S. airports have also taken various other steps to make its facilities more eco-friendly. For example, the Seattle-Tacoma area, which nests the main headquarters for the Starbucks Coffee franchise, has its airports recycle 143 tons of ground coffee recycled after being transported to a local recycling facility and composted.

Elizabeth Leavitt, the airport's director says, "None of us imagined that it'd be of this magnitude."

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Corporate giants go solar for savings

The biggest store chains in the U.S. are now seeing solar panels as a huge way to save energy and money.

According to The New York Times article, Stores such as Wal Mart, Kohls, Safeway and Wholefoods Market have installed solar panels on their roofs to generate electricity.

At this point, around 10 percent of each chain has solar coverage, but a large increase can be expected. There is a race in place, to beat the Dec. 31 deadline to gain tax advantages for these projects. Although coal is less expensive, companies believe they can save money by economies of scale.

Cutting back on coal and going solar will save these companies a lot of money and help the environment by using renewable resources.

"It's very clear that green energy is now front and center in the minds of the business sector," says Daniel M. Kammen, an energy expert at the University of California, Berkeley. "Not only will you see panels on the roofs of your local stores, but I suspect very soon retailers will have stickers in their windows saying, "This is a green energy store."

Most companies buy their own solar power systems up front, which may cost between $4 and $6 million dollars for a large store. Agreements can be made as well, where the utility company pays the up-front costs and gives stores a break on the high solar power bills.

Corporations are also looking to other forms of renewable energy, such as wind turbines, sky lights and white roofs that help to save money on cooling. Bernard Sosnick, an analyst with Gilford Securities believes, “It’s not as over the horizon as it might seem."

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