Ahh – spring has sprung! Time when people’s thoughts turn to playing outside and planting flowers. It’s a great time for lower utility bills.
It’s also time to think about one of my favorite summer activities – swimming.
I don’t know about you, but I really enjoy swimming. One of the things I don’t like, however, is getting into cold water.
I don’t know how my kids do it – it seems that they are part penguin (must be from their mother’s side) and dive right in no matter what the temperature. On the other hand, if the pool is cool, I’m the guy that takes forever to get in, if I get in at all.
Of course, there is a way to avoid this – heat the swimming pool. This can be an expensive proposition, however.
Natural gas, propane and electric bills can skyrocket to hundreds of dollars during the swimming season, not to mention the untold environmental impacts of mining and burning those fossil fuels.
Of course, there is a way to avoid this, too – harness the natural, free energy of the sun. Solar pool heating systems do an excellent job of adding 10 to 15 degrees to the temperature of an unheated pool.
They don’t cost much more than any other type of heater but they cost nothing to run! The heat from the sun is free and will never go up in price.
Solar pool heaters work by circulating the water from the pool through solar collectors. These collectors are made from a special blend of polymers and are designed to capture the heat from the sun and transfer it to the water. Each collector is rated for up to 48,000 BTU’s per day.
Although solar pools heater are not as well-known as the other types of heaters, they have been around for over 30 years and their popularity is growing. They have withstood the test of time and their warranty supports this. The panels come with a full 10-year and limited lifetime warranty – far longer than any other type of heater.
As the swimming season starts, think about the difference solar energy can make – a warmer pool and a cleaner environment. Then, make a choice to make a difference with lower utility bills.
by Mark Bortman