Green’s the new black, as the fashionistas of the world would say, and it’s hitting the pool and spa runway full force. Energy-saving, eco-friendly products are making their way into the market, teasing dealers with trendier options and enticing homeowners to save a buck or two — not to mention the Earth. It’s time to look into upgrading and revamping the pool and making way for the next generation of “greener” pastures.
“The average age of pools we are renovating is 15 to 20 years old,” says Thomas Lopez, president of Aquavida Pools in Phoenix. “At that point in time, they didn’t really offer any economical or efficient motors back then.” But times have changed, and repair-driven renovations are now taking a backseat to lifting up the hood and replacing what’s inside — because you want to, not because you to.
Renovating a pool can be costly, especially if moving toward a more eco-friendly backyard. It’s an investment, says Lopez, and one that not everyone is able to make.
Green makeovers are a smaller part of the renovations Aquavida Pools does, says Lopez, because of the financial investment Green renovations can cost anywhere from $225 to $12,000, adds Lopez, depending on what’s being done.
One of the main consumer selling points of going green — besides being more eco-friendly, of course — is the financial payback. But the initial cost of the project can scare customers away from green renovations. In today’s unstable economy, customers may have a hard time seeing beyond the bottom line and into the future.
Pump Magic
For the consumer who has just started thinking about renovating a pool, there is a good place to start that doesn’t break the bank. “Probably the most economical approach is the basic industry-standard upgrade pump, an [energy efficient motor],” suggests Lopez. “The armatures in the motors consume less energy,” adds Lopez, so at a minimum, he recommends customers doing this upgrade.
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