What is The VGBA?

 

The Virginia Graeme Baker Act was put into legislation on December 19, 2008 and is administered by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). This Act affects all public pools and spas and provides multiple layers of protection from entrapment situations.  The following website provides various links that answers any questions you may have on this act in determining if your facility is VGBA compliant.

 

CLICK HERE for more information on VGB Act.
 

 

No one ever wants to swim in a GREEN pool, until now.  Today's eco-conscience society looks for ways to help the earth from damaging waste products.  Standard methods of treating swimming pools deal with bulk packaged chemicals that eventually impact the environment.  So when does it become beneficial to produce your own chlorine (using a Salt Chlorine Generator - SCG) versus buying packaged chlorine?  Consider the following cost impact, using the equivalent cost per pound of 100% available chlorine.
The most prevalent methods of sanitization are erosion tri-chlor tablet feeders, Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach) chemical pumps, and Calcium Hypochlorite dry chemical feeders. 
Tri-Chlor - Compressed tablets, 90% available chlorine.  Estimated cost in bulk, $238.99 per 100 lb pail¹.  At 90% available chlorine, $2.39/lb of tri-chlor = $2.66/lb of 100% available chlorine
Sodium Hypohlorite - Bleach, 12 % available chlorine.  Estimated cost per gallon, $1.75³.  One gallon weights 8.3 lbs. $1.75/8.3 = $0.21/lb of 12% bleach = $1.76/lb 100% available chlorine.
Calcium Hypochlorite - granular or pellets, 65% available chlorine.  $291 per 100 lb pail².  At 65% available chlorine, $2.91/lb of calcium hypochlorite = $4.48/lb of 100% available chlorine.
Pool Pilot SCG - Pool Pilot CC-15 cell produces 2.5 lbs/day.  Electrical requirements = 220volts @ 1.5 amps = 330 watts/hr = 0.33 KW/hr x 24 hr = 7.92 KW/day.  As electrical rates vary across the country, your rate can be substituted here.  7.92 KW/day x $0.11/KW³ = $0.87/2.5 lbs = $0.35/lb 100% available chlorine.

Now consider the environmental waste impact.  Aside from the disposal of bags from the initial dosage of salt, there is a greatly reduced amount of waste products from the SCG over traditional chlorine products.  Remember too that packaged chlorine require chemical balancers to maintain pH levels, whereas SCG systems require small amounts of Muriatic Acid or CO2 to maintain pH balance. 

Finally, there is much improved air and water quality experienced with an SCG (to be covered in next month's edition). 
 

A cost effective method and environmentally friendlier system to maintain a Blue pool, IS the new Green.  

  
¹http://www.mysimon.com/9000-10974_8-0.html?sdcq=keyword-cost+of+chlorine
²http://www.nextag.com/calcium-hypochlorite/compare-html
³Based on South Florida local prices

 

Using HVAC technology, swimming pool heat pumps offer a cost effective and reliable way to maintain a heated pool.
By using electricity to power a fan and compressor, less energy is used to keep a pool or spa heated, without burning fossil fuel and leaving a carbon footprint.  This makes heat pumps a very smart alternative to gas heaters.
Heat Pumps are designed as either Air Source or Water Source (Geothermal).  The basic principle uses the unique characteristics of freon to absorb and release heat.  As freon absorbs heat, it changes from a liquid to a gas.  With an Air Source, this is done at the evaporator coil (like a car radiator), where 80% of heat is transfered (geothermal systems utilize a heat exchanger to absorb the heat from the water source).  The gas freon is then run through a compressor that increases the heat further to a super hot gas.  Finally, the hot gas is released in a heat exchanger to the pool or spa water, and converted back to a liquid state.  Energy is only used to run the fan that draws the ambient air through the evaporator, and the compressor. 

 

Heat Pumps can also use the freon characteristics to reverse flow and COOL the pool.  This is a critical factor with competitive pools that require a specific temperature range.  For outdoor pools that get uncomfortably hot during the summer months, cooling the pool water is a welcomed change that increases swimmer comfort and reduces chemical usage.  Some Heat Pumps can even cool a spa down low enough to make it a cold plunge, which is very helpful after sports and exercise for accelerated muscle recovery.

 

Geographical regions of the US may require the use of a back up gas heater to maintain heat during the cool winter months that a pool or spa may remain opened.
The overall cost savings to maintain a heated pool typically represent a minimum of 50% reduction in operating costs. 

In Part 2 of this series, I will discuss futher the heating process (gas, solar, electric resistance and heat pumps) and the benefits of the heat pump.