A Greener Outlook

How pools, spas, and backyard products are becoming eco-friendly

By Debra Maurer

GREEN: It's more than a color. It's a life-changing concept that has been at the forefront of recent consumer trends. Environment-friendly products are springing up everywhere we look and impacting our day-to-day lives. As consumers, what can we do to incorporate recycled or recyclable products and energy-saving systems into our routine without altering our entire lifestyle? There are ways to enjoy free time at home while reducing pollution and energy consumption. In fact, many manufacturers are even changing their methods of production to ensure a greener, cleaner planet.

But what exactly does it mean to be green? Can these changes, great or small, really make a difference? The answer is yes — and we all benefit from the turnaround.

What It Means to Be Green

The term green has turned into a buzzword over the past year, and it has generated so much interest because helping the planet provides benefits that consumers are looking for anyway: improved quality and cost savings. Cutting down on our electricity use, reducing our water consumption and turning to alternative sources of energy are among practices once thought to cramp our lifestyles or be simply too expensive to adopt. Now that manufacturers in almost every industry have seen a consumer demand for green alternatives, products like solar-powered outdoor ovens and bamboo towels don't sound so strange.

With the amount of terminology being thrown around, you may be left wondering what going green really means. Since there are no government regulations on the word green, most people consider its meaning quite general — a practice, product or lifestyle that aids the planet. Green activities can include reducing materials and avoiding actions that harm the planet, as well as using materials and adopting practices that actually help the planet. Debra Lynn Dadd, author of Really Green, offers this definition: "Any product, service or practice that embodies the values of being supportive of the ongoing sustaining and flourishing of life." According to Mateo Bueno, director of marketing and strategy for GreenYour.com, a website offering tips on greening a wide variety of products and activities, "Green consumers strive to reduce their environmental footprint by making informed purchases that are better for their health and the planet."

The level of commitment, therefore, is up to you.

Options for Pool & Spas

One of the biggest areas of interest is creating a cleaner, greener home, so it's no surprise that homeowners are looking to make everything in their backyard and outdoor living space better for the Earth — and less taxing on their bank account. Innovations in pool materials have led to more environmentally friendly pools. The use of chemical alternatives, solar water heating and recycled materials all come into play when planning, renovating and maintaining your pool.

One way to be green is reducing your consumption of resources, thus reducing the level of production, packaging and transportation of the products you use. While it may be tempting to use less chlorine and other chemicals, you must ensure the water is still healthy and maintained. "There is actually a far greater impact on the environment if chlorine is underutilized in a swimming pool than if it's used at the proper levels, 1 - 3 ppm. That's because organic matter or bather waste builds up, and the use of too little chlorine creates more in the way of byproducts than if you use chlorine at the correct level," says John Puetz, vice president of research and development for Advantis Technologies. "If you really want to be green, the best thing to do is to carefully monitor your water balance. It's much easier to prevent a problem than to correct it. Getting chlorine and pH levels back to normal may require large amounts of additional chemicals."

You can also cut down on chlorine by using a non-chlorine shock oxidizer, says Puetz. "This oxidizes organic waste without employing chlorine so there are no byproducts at all."

To eliminate the need to transport, handle and store chlorine, you can opt for a salt chlorine generator, which produces chlorine sanitizer from salt. Still, for those seeking low-chlorine systems or chlorine alternatives, ozonators and mineral systems are available. While ozone and minerals such as copper destroy bacteria and algae, they don't maintain a residual and must be used with smaller amounts of a traditional sanitizer, such as bromine and chlorine. Some manufacturers offer systems that combine an ozonator and a salt chlorine generator.

Another tip for reducing your chemical requirements: Use a pool cover regularly. Experts also recommend that all swimmers shower before entering a pool to reduce body oils, lotions and bacteria that slough off their skin into the water. Products are available that make this practice more convenient, including a solar-heated shower nozzle that attaches to a nearby garden hose.

What Manufacturers and Suppliers are Doing

Some members of the pool-building industry have made efforts to go green by working with suppliers of solar heating systems, which can be installed on both new and preexisting pools.

Consumers can choose from two types: those using unglazed, non-insulated panels and others that use glazed, insulated panels. Direct solar panels draw water through the filter and up to roof-mounted, unglazed, non-insulated panels for solar heating.

These panels are less expensive and reach lower temperatures, but they are effective for heating pool water to approximately 80 - 90 degrees F. The second type of panels are glazed and insulated and can be mounted on racks or other structures, including roofs. This type often heats the water indirectly by using an environmentally friendly solution in the panels; the solar-heated solution travels through a heat exchanger to warm the pool water. Since the solution can reach high temperatures, it can also be used with your home's hot water heater. Whichever type of panels you choose, they need to be 50 to up to 100 percent the size of the pool's surface area, depending on the region, to adequately heat the water. These systems usually pay for themselves within two to seven years.

Electrical capacitors help save money and electricity by reclaiming and recycling the energy required to start up and run pumps as well as major home appliances. They also allow motors to run cooler and more efficiently.

The spa industry has come a long way in reducing energy consumption considerably. Many of today's spas recycle waste heat given off by the heater and pumps, redirecting it to help heat the water. Some have even put the jets' plumbing directly behind each seat; this keeps the warm water from cooling off as it travels through the pipes.

Other top companies are making their synthetic cabinets out of recycled plastic and other recycled materials. These cabinets are easier to maintain than wood, while offering the look of natural wood. In addition, many companies have been recycling all scrap production material for years. Specialized insulation materials and innovative cleaning systems are also pushing the green envelope.

Most spas have an automatic shutoff feature so that pumps, jets and lights do not run excessively. Some spas include timers for the heating cycle or a built-in economy mode.

Making the Transition

Ok, so the problem is not a lack of options; rather, it's what to choose and how to go about making the switch. Bueno offers some advice: "Rather than fully replacing all of your belongings with green alternatives, start by addressing the high impact areas, such as your home energy use� People are quickly finding that going green can save green and greatly improve their quality of life."

In your backyard, you can start making changes to common activities, such as cooking on the barbecue. Choosing a cleaner-burning electric or gas grill will reduce air pollution; alternatively, you can try a flameless solar stove. GreenYour.com notes that even if you can't part with your charcoal grill, you can use an electric charcoal lighter and briquettes made from sustainably-sourced wood. An electric lighter eliminates direct VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions, which contribute to the formation of unhealthy ground-level ozone when they interact with UV rays.

You can make small changes with your pool, too. While you may not be ready for a solar heating system, covering your pool when not in use can make a huge difference, since the majority of a pool's heat is lost through the surface.

What You Can Do

For those of us who currently own or are planning to buy a pool, hot tub, grill or any other backyard indulgence, go forth and enjoy it! Education is the key. By following just a few tips when selecting and using products in your backyard, you're already making a difference. All those little changes add up and contribute to a cleaner planet and healthier future.

Photo courtesy of Helliocol Solar Pool Heating