Going Green: Three Ways To Create An Environmentally-Friendly Swimming Pool

Living a "green" lifestyle means finding new ways to be kind to the earth. Did you know that your swimming pool (and all that you do to maintain it) can have an impact on the environment? While conjuring up eco-friendly living standards, don't forget to direct your efforts toward the backyard pool. Here are three ways to a "greener" swimming pool:

1. Practice Water Conservation

A swimming pool can be a water consumption "hog", but the good news is, there are measures you can take to counteract this. Here are a few good ideas to prevent you from wasting water:

• Take Cover: One way to conserve water is to keep the swimming pool covered when not in use. Otherwise, you could be wasting water through the evaporation process. The simple solution is to use a pool cover designed for your type of swimming pool, either in-ground or above-ground.

• Seal Those Leaks: Don't let leakage drain your pool. Considering it could take up to 20,000 gallons of water to fill an average-sized residential swimming pool, you need to inspect your pool regularly for signs of leakage. Check for tell-tale signs, such as tears or cracks alongside the pool walls as well as loose panels.

  You might also want to check the ground by the pool for signs of moisture in the topsoil. A constantly wet ground is often indicative of a leak somewhere in the pool. Pools of mud is another red flag. If a leak has been detected, a contractor should be called in to repair the damage.

• Be Choosy About Your Filter: If you're concerned about water conservation, you might want to look for an alternative to a sand filter which may waste gallons of water for back-washing. Cartridge filters are more efficient and will help you prevent water waste. The downside of choosing a cartridge filter, however, is the higher cost.

2. Conserve Energy

What better way to be kind to the environment than by conserving energy? How can you be energy-conscious when maintaining your pool? Consider taking these measures:

• Go Solar: Rather than use a standard gas or electric powered heater, consider a solar heater for your swimming pool. Solar heating is derived from the sun and it saves on energy. You may use this type of heating for in-ground as well as above-ground swimming pools. Your solar heating system will typically include a device that circulates the water, as well as a filter and pump. Solar panels work by generating heat from the sun which warms your swimming pool during cooler weather.

• Put Your Pool Filter and Pump On Standby: Do not let your pool filter run constantly. It will not only place unnecessary stress on the filter, it will consume energy unnecessarily. One way around this is to use an automated timer that will allow your filter to do its job for a preset amount of time.

  Typically, the run time should be no longer than several hours at a time during the spring, summer and fall. During the winter months, you should only need to let the filter run an hour or two each day. As for your swimming pool pump, it's best not to exceed a run of eight hours on any given day.

3. Say No to Chemicals

Freshwater pools will require the use of chlorine and chemicals. This is not the ideal "green" solution for the environmentally conscious. When chemicals such as chlorine "escape" from your swimming pool water, it may pollute the air. Saltwater swimming pools do not require heavy chlorinated water. If your saltwater swimming pool includes an ionizer, you may be able to cut back on chemical use as well. To reduce the need for chemicals in your swimming pool, don't forget to keep the filters clean.

Keep the above mentioned tips in mind for maintaining your swimming people in an earth-friendly way. There are other tricks you'll learn along the way. Remember, every day should be Earth Day.