The idea of relaxing by the pool screams “summer” and “relaxation”, but you should also consider the environment when caring for your pool.

And even though we don’t want to ruin the fun by bringing up the subject, swimming pools not only take a lot of water and energy but to keep them clean, you need the help of harsh chemicals.

So if you want an eco-friendly pool that looks great and feels great too, this article discusses types of eco-friendly pools and how you can make an environmental choice for your swimming pool.

5 Types of Eco-Friendly Pools to Consider

1. Natural Pools

Natural pools are an environmentally friendly, low-tech, and reasonably priced alternative to conventional types. Instead of using concrete and fiberglass, you can build a natural pool using gravel and clay. Aquatic plants clean and sterilize the pool in a natural pool rather than chlorine or a filtration system.

The introduction of oxygen and beneficial microbes into the water by plants serves as a natural cleansing system. To improve the health of your eco-friendly pool, you can incorporate additional elements such as green pool roofs and vertical gardens into your poolside.

2. Moss-Filtered Pools

Moss-filtered pools are made from peat, clay, and plant materials. These eco-friendly pools typically reduce water use and how often you have to backwash the pool for maintenance. Moss-filtered pools contain little to no chlorine and allow water to pass through plants and their roots.

According to research, eco-friendly pool moss systems lower pool chemicals by up to 40 percent and water consumption by 75%, saving them about $6700 annually.

3. Saltwater Pools

Saltwater pools use a salt-chlorine generator to keep the water clean without adding chemicals. Instead of putting chlorine, saltwater pools use salt to create electrolysis, killing algae and bacteria.

If you opt for a saline eco-friendly pool, maintain your chlorine cell twice a year to minimize calcium buildup and add salt to the water monthly. By reducing the chlorine you’re putting in the water, you’ll be helping reduce overall chemical usage.

4. Ozone Sterilization

Using ozone sterilization is another eco-friendly way to keep your pool sparkling clean. An ozone sterilization system uses electricity to turn oxygen into a bacteria-killing compound. These systems can eliminate the use of chemicals or reduce them by at least 80%. This will save you money on eco-friendly pool care and contribute to a cleaner environment.

5. Efficient Heating

You can reduce your eco-friendly pool heating costs by up to 20% by using high-efficiency condensing boilers. To keep your pool warm, consider using solar blankets or energy-efficient heat pumps.

Saving money and reducing CO2 emissions are two great reasons to switch to eco-friendly heating systems. Swimming pools come in assorted shapes and sizes, but efficient heating is a simple approach to help keep your pool environmentally and financially friendly.

How to Make Your Pool More Eco-Friendly

We can’t deny the allure of a backyard pool, but what can you do to reduce the environmental effect of its upkeep? Here are a bunch of pointers on making your swimming pool more environmentally friendly.

1. Use Fewer Chemicals to Maintain Your Pool or Convert It to a Natural Swimming Pool

While most pools employ chlorine and other harsh chemicals to eliminate bacteria and algae, these chemicals have considerable transportation and manufacturing impacts. Chlorine production results in mercury emissions, and once put in a swimming pool, it may contribute to local ozone pollution.

An alternative to stopping using chemicals entirely is to transform your swimming pool into a natural swimming pool. A natural eco-friendly pool is free of chemicals and employs only natural organic materials to filter the water, resulting in entirely pure water.

Here is everything you need to know about natural pools, including design, construction, costs, and maintenance. Learn how to build a natural swimming pool.

2. Cover Your Swimming Pool

Covering the pool is the easiest and most cost-effective option to preserve water and electricity when you’re not using your pool. Pool covers keep the heat in and the debris out and prevent water from evaporating from the pool. Discover the benefits and drawbacks of pool covers.

Sealing the heat of your pool means lesser use of energy when it’s time to reheat your pool again. Also, keeping debris out of the pool means you’ll use less energy to filter it. And once you maintain the water, you’ll use less water to refill the pool, making it closer for you to have an eco-friendly pool.

“Since evaporation occurs when the water meets the air and wind, the best way to fight it is by using a pool cover. One of these babies can cut your evaporation down by a whopping 95%!”

Poolcareguy

3. Use an Automatic Pool Cleaner

An automatic pool cleaner makes life much easier. Just set it once, and it automatically detects dirt in your pool, vacuuming it up and returning it to its designated area. It also filters the water as it cleans. By keeping your water free of algae, you won’t have to add extra chlorine or shock the pool more often.

Read this article to learn more about robotic pool cleaners and how to choose the right one.

4. Use Led Pool Lights to Illuminate Your Swimming Pool

If you haven’t already, now is an excellent opportunity to make the switch to energy-efficient LED light bulbs throughout your home. Specifically, this lightens up your pool and your outdoor environment. Compared to regular incandescent light bulbs, LED light bulbs consume approximately 75% less energy and last 25 times longer.

5. Install Automated Swimming Pool System

Using an automated swimming pool system gives you the benefit of controlling your pool equipment, from pool lights to sanitization in a single tap in your smartphone or tablet. An automated swimming pool system allows you to automate your water’s chemistry, ensuring that you only use what is needed (no more, no less).

Also, you use less energy for all your pool equipment by programming your pool pump, lights, heater, and pool vacuum to turn off when not required. 

6. Install Solar Panels to Heat Your Pool

If you live in an area where the sun shines longer during summer, installing solar panels to heat your pool might be an option for you. Once your roof is ready, these panels are easy to install, and they can save you up to 50% of your energy costs, reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Although setting up the panels takes some effort, it is a one-time investment that works excellent in the long run. Clean energy is one of the most important steps to having an eco-friendly pool.

7. Thoroughly Inspect for Leaks

If you’re taking care of your pool’s maintenance, make sure to inspect for leaks. Checking for leaks is the easiest way to save on energy costs and help the environment. While taking care of your pool, look out for cracks or holes where water can leak out. Also, check if the pump is working correctly to prevent any unnecessary leaks.

Over time, even the slightest leak could eventually lead to a waste of gallons of pool water.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you enjoyed reading about how to build an eco-friendly pool. Using our tips, you can install a pool that you are proud to have in your backyard without causing harm to the environment. 

Thank you for reading, we are always excited when one of our posts is able to provide useful information on a topic like this!