Spa energy – seven tactics to waste less
Hot tubs and spas are big energy users. But there are many ways you can reduce your energy, which both is good for both your budget and the environment. Here are 7 of those ways.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
The environment is green
And your spa can be too.
Save energy as best you can with your hot tub or spa. Hot tubs are major energy consumers, because they keep a fair amount of water quite warm 24 hours a day. But not all spas are created equal and not all hot tub owners use treat their spas the same. Yes, there are things you can do. Here are seven of them.
1) Cover up – no need to keep the hot tub open to the air. Put the hot tub cover on right away, when not in use. This is the same principal as keep your door closed in winter to keep the heat in, or in summer to keep the air conditioning in. Remember when your mother used to admonish you to “Keep the door closed. Are you trying to heat the whole neighbourhood?” Well, the same goes for your hot tub – keep the spa covered, or you’ll heat the whole neighbourhood.
2) Turn it off. If you know you won’t be around, you don’t need the heat. In fact, any time you plan to be away from home, any time you know in advance that your schedule will be just too busy to pop in for some relaxation, any time you know it will be several days until the hot tub will be used again, turn he heat down or even off. (NOTE: In winter weather, keep some heat going so that pipes don’t freeze and equipment is not damaged. But you can still turn it way down while you are away for a week or more.
3) How about a light-weight thermal blanket, specially made for pools and spas? They neither cost nor weight very much. It will keep both heat and moisture in the tub and away from your cover. It saves energy and helps your hot tub last longer.
4) Create a windbreak around your spa. You know how food cools so much more quickly on your patio table than your kitchen table? So does your spa. Save energy keeping your hot tub warm, by creating windbreaks, such as nicely ornamental fences and shrubbery.
5) Are you a night time spa-user? Do you light up the are at night? Have you considered replacing electric lights with mood lighting – candlelight? Candles don’t consume as much energy as electric lights do, and they offer the benefits of soothing ambiance, as well.
6) Keep your filters working well, and replace them as they show their age. Clogged filters slow down the circulation of water, straining the equipment, and making your motors work harder – and consuming more power. An overworked motor will also have a shorter life and need to be replaced sooner.
7) Don’t waste water. The more water gets splashed around outside the tub, the more new water has to be replaced and reheated. Save water, save heat.
Hot tubs are so much fun, but they are also big energy users. Keep the fun, let go of (some of) the energy. Make sure the hot tub you choose actually reduce energy rather than increasing it. These are some common-sense steps you can take to avoid digging too deep into your pockets and scarring too deeply the environment with your hot tub.
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The author is David Leonhardt, writing forthis Canadian Spa Covers manufacturer. Come see all the manyhot tub cover shapes they can make to fit your hot tub.
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