Spa Covers And The Energy Star Program

The Energy Star program is run by the USWith an estimated 1.2 million pools and about half a
Environmental Protection Agency and the USmillion spas the State of California by itself has to
Department of Energy. It is a great idea and hashave the entire yearly output of one nuclear power
helped manufacturers move toward more energyplant plus one conventional power plant just to feed
efficient products in many different areas.the consumption of pools and spas. It's no wonder
Unfortunately though since it is a program paid forthe California Energy Commission has recently
with tax dollars it has to be limited in scope orapproved new appliance efficiency regulations that
targeted so that the products it covers would befor the first time include portable spas and a
something that the majority of tax payers could seemaximum allowable watt per hour usage.
a benefit in.As spa manufacturers struggle to meet these new
It would be really great if Every product orrequirements the bottom line for you the spa owner
innovation that reduced the energy required could beis how do you reduce the expense of operating your
considered however such is not the case.already purchased hot tub? Since most of the energy
Understandably the program is focused on generalused in the spa is used keeping the water warm for
energy consumption of household products, washingthe next time you want to dip into it, getting that
machines, refrigerators, and materials used in homewater insulated is the key. If wrapping your water
construction that reduce energy needs.heater can make a difference in your energy bill,
Some products used in the home, for exampleimagine what "wrapping" your other water heater
computers are included, others in particular pools and(your spa) would do.
spas are not. Unfortunate considering the percentageYour hot tub uses the same type of heater your
of household energy consumption that goes into ahousehold water heater does only your household
pool or spa. We have even seen the Energy Starwater heater may have twice as many elements to
logo used in advertising spas even though theheat up about forty gallons of water while your spa
Department of Energy has clearly stated that it willis trying to heat four hundred gallons. Good insulation
not consider such a product for inclusion as anaround the sides and bottom of your spa play a vital
Energy Star Partner since the majority of taxpayersrole in helping keep that spa water warm. However
would not benefit from such a product.most of the heat lost from your spa water is going
Personally I would prefer that every tax payer wouldstraight up. Insulating the water with the best
own at least one Hot tub. I can only see this as goodinsulating cover makes the most sense.
for the country. If more people were spending moreWith the new amendments of the California
time in their spa they would be using less fuel drivingAppliance Efficiency Regulations, that state is taking
around and have a lot less stress.the lead in setting tougher standards for the energy
According to the findings of a 2004 study conductedconsumption of portable spas. Other states will no
by the Davis Energy Group sponsored Pacific Gasdoubt follow suit. With the biggest use of energy
& Electric Co., pool and spa pumps are almostgoing straight up out the top, looking for the best
always the largest single electrical end-use (applianceinsulating spa cover will be the answer for the
in a home), using more than three times the energyseriously energy conscious spa owner. The Energy
of a new refrigerator. This same study found thatStar may never be offered to spas or spa covers
the average residential pool pump consumes 2,600but it won't be long before meeting the California
kilowatt hours (kWh) annually with portable spas notRegulations for spa energy consumption will be equal
far behind at 2,500 kWh per year.to the best endorsement.