NATATORIUM CONSERVATION
THE REALITY OF GREEN SUSTAINABILITY
CUTS CONSUMPTION AND COSTS IN HALF
• REAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY
• REAL WATER CONSERVATION
• REAL ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
• REAL ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES
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NATATORIUMS SIT ON THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW
ENERGY EFFICIENCY ERA
Pool evaporation is fundamentally the physics of heat loss and humidity gain - stopping it saves energy and money
POOLS ARE ENERGY HOGS... NO LONGER -
Energy efficiency is a low-risk operational solution for the energy crisis, water drought conditions, CO2 emissions, and escalating operating expenses. Future strategic justification of natatoriums depends on major improvements in water conservation, energy efficiency, and cost containment.
CRITICAL RESEARCH - DOE, EERE, and EPA
Both theoretical and applied government energy research for 25 years validates use of blankets for 8 hours at night on indoor pools will save 50% to 70% of total daily energy consumption. This research has recently been peer-reviewed and revalidated for publication. Stopping evaporation at night when it is colder outdoors stops over half of average daily heat loss, significantly reduces ventilation and dehumidification energy demand and consumption. Despite building insulation, evaporation rates at night are greater due to increased temperature differentials constantly seeking equilibrium. Also 30%-50% of total water losses and 35%-60% of chemical losses are the direct result of this higher nighttime evaporation.
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ENERGY & WATER EFFICIENCY... Good timing to be real green,
environmentally-conscious, pool smart, financially frugal? You bet it is.
U.S. & GLOBAL TRENDS... show a focus on energy and water will be top priority for decades. Alternative energy sounds glamorous, but pools must can focus capital on energy efficiency for the greatest returns.
NATATORIUM TRENDS... show an increasing importance for energy efficiency, water conservation, (IAQ) health and environmental concerns. There's a real need for green consciousness. But foremost is the need for reducing operating costs. We predict virtually all indoor pools will eventually employ energy blankets out of economic necessity, common sense, or environmental decree.
COST TRENDS...
- Gas costs skyrocketed, then plummeted, will now stay cheap
- Electricity costs for dehumidification are up (offsets gas)
- Water costs are way up, conservation is critical
- Labor costs up
- Green compliance is exploding
- Energy efficiency performance will become mandatory
- Blankets cut all these operating costs in half for natatoriums
95% OF NATATORIUMS DO NOT USE BLANKETS... Why? Because they traditionally were a hassle - major time, labor, handling, and storage issues. We engineered a new method making it lots easier. One single whole-pool blanket, one uniquely efficient automation system.
Fast and easy - like you never ever imagined it could be.
STOPPING EVAPORATION... evaporative heat loss, otherwise known as evaporative cooling, is the result of differential temperatures (warm pool water vs. cool outside air) seeking equilibrium. Water evaporates using heat (thermodynamics) to transform itself from a liquid to a gas. Covering it with a membrane stops this process. Otherwise, a heated pool is truly one big source of continuous evaporation and heat transfer.
RETAINING HEAT... The warmer the pool water and the cooler the outside air, the greater the evaporation rate. It's like leaving the windows of your house open all winter while trying to heat it. Or leaving them open all summer while turning on the air conditioner to counter the heat, which in natatoriums constantly evaporates off the pool. Covering a pool does two things - stops evaporation and retains existing heat. And saves money.
ENERGY STORAGE... Water is an excellent storage medium for heat energy, and where better than in swimming pools as storage vessels? Since the natural evaporation process is accelerated by water-air temperature differentials, these storage vessels must be covered when convenient at night to limit heat losses.
STOPPING HUMIDITY... dehumidifiers &heat recovery mechanical systems in natatoriums require lots of electric energy. Simple question - why not cover the source of humidity (warm pool water) to physically keep the Btu's from escaping? Simple physics - use a vapor barrier blanket, virtually stop water vapor transformation and heat loss, reduce the virtual need for dehumidification. Blankets have low operating cost, while dehumidifiers work 24x7x365 at a very high cost. Stop humidity efficiently with a physical blanket instead of a mechanical dehumidifier. Want proof - check your electricity bill, your gas bill, and your water bill.
NEW CONSTRUCTION - RENOVATION - RETROFITTING... Makes no difference, do it now, start saving immediately, every day. Manual and automated models for on-deck, above-deck, under-deck installation.
ERGONOMICS + ENERGY + EFFICIENCY = ECONOMIC VAUE
H2O Energy Blankets sets the new standard for pool operations.
Nothing else comes close. Premier pools demand premier service.
First, H2O Blankets made life-guard's tasks a whole lot simpler (ergonomics) by making blanket handling really easy, really fast. Example: traditional blankets take 45-minutes, ours take 1-minute.
Second, the whole world is captivated by innovative energy technologies and economic-ecological impacts. Reality = pools are big energy hogs. Energy blankets cut utilities in half.
Third, it's the biggest possible way a pool can be green, cut tons of emissions, and save tons of money. Blankets stop evaporative heat loss and humidity gain - about as basic and pragmatic as it gets. Covering water surfaces, especially at night, retains heat. Stopping evaporation stops humidity & dehumidification demand. Do the math, this green & clean technology is pure physics. This is clearly an environmental and financial windfall for natatoriums. Capital efficiency, energy efficiency, and operational efficiency.
CLIMATE & GEOGRAPHY... No matter what your location across the nation, the costs of heating indoor pools and the potential savings using energy blankets are surprisingly similar. Not as different as you'd think. It's mostly about outdoor nighttime temperature differentials and relative humidity factors compared against indoor pool environment conditions. Ask the DOE about energy blankets for indoor pools - nothing's better.
Temperatures always seek equilibrium - the laws of thermodynamics explain the physics. When indoor open pool water is warm and outdoor temperatures drop, they will always try to equalize via evaporation. Indoor climates continuously battle oudoor clomates. The greater temperature differences, relative humidity factors, air movement, water surface area, and natatorium air space, the greater evaporation rate and volume.
CALCULATOR: Use this DOE-based Geographic Savings Calculator, it's conservative, but it can provide a good basis for your area. Adjust for gas cost and pool size. If your facility is dehumidified, add electricity cost - total energy consumed equalizes. This is because dehumidifiers can recover lots of (gas) heat efficiently, but they require lots of electricity to extract continuous humidity out of the air above an uncovered pool. Think of evaporation as feeding the energy dragon. Cover it - stop it.
PROFITABLY GREEN... Want to be conscientious? Want to be smart and competitive? H2O Blankets has one simple solution - cover indoor pools, contain the heat, save money, make a really big contribution to saving the environment too. Make a difference, put a lid on evaporation. See green. Bank the savings. Smile.
CERTIFIABLY GREEN... Want to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council?
The bottom line is LEED EA Prerequisite 2 (Minimum Energy Requirements) mandates that "Buildings must meet ASHRAE 90.1-2004 ---- which has a Mandatory Requirement that "Heated pools shall be equipped with a pool cover."
Unfortunately, no LEED standards exist specifically for natatoriums. Nor does LEED base its ratings on actual energy volume saved. Natatoriums generally consume 10 times more energy/water resources than average commercial buildings. So stopping evaporation yields much greater financial, energy, and environmental returns than any other actions. Pools are way outside LEED's comparison scale.
We truly applaud LEED's initiative, but practical perspective is essential when evaluating the unique value of energy efficiency inside natatoriums. LEED buildings are under no obligation to track energy usage after receiving initial certification or changes to their energy usage model. LEED does not predict future energy use of building space it certifies. We believe energy efficiency solutions must minimally do this. Using our blankets at night will simply curtail 50% of energy & water consumption.
REAL CREDITS YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK... Give credit where it's due - ongoing operational savings go right to the bottom line just the same as profits. Ask your banker's opinion about 6-12 month payback.
GRANTS & INCENTIVES... Do you really need extra inducements to pursue ongoing 50% energy & water conservation? However, one time tax incentives are great for capital justification. Take a closer look - this is an extraordinary investment even without subsidies. Payback is 6-12 months, not years. The biggest true incentives are cutting utility operating costs in half annually and measuring capital payback in months (banks consider this a low risk investment). No artificial subsidies. And being really green doing it - environmentally and economically.
For a comprehensive list of state and Federal incentives, visit DSIRE, Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. Other databases: EERE, TIAP, DOE, and Energy Act of 2008. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, ACEEE, is another good database for efficiency (policy, programs, incentives, resources) info by state. Check with your professional tax preparer about applying/qualifying for income tax credits.
Energy efficiency is high priority for good reason - It's economically attractive, environmentally beneficial, operationally proactive, and it's ongoing year after year. No subsidies needed for capital justification for energy blankets. Run the investment and operating numbers. It's a smart and superior investment short-term and long-term.
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NATATORIUM ENERGY CONSERVATION CAN BE
SMARTER-QUICKER-EASIER
THAN EVER
Start covering your commercial indoor pool every night year round with a lightweight, automated, vapor barrier membrane
(WHOLE POOL - ONE BLANKET - ANY SIZE)
from H2O Blankets. Nothing like you've ever seen before in aquatics when it comes to innovative energy & water efficiency. It's about saving big money. Custom engineered for commercial natatoriums.
We guarantee you have never seen such time & labor productivity nor fast economic payback like this before for pool operations.
Prepare for a new era of energy efficiency, water efficiency, and operational cost conservation. You won't find a better investment.
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Or call us at H2O Blankets to discuss a fascinating energy project
custom-tailored for your natatorium.
H2O BLANKETS, LLC - NATATORIUM ENERGY CONSERVATION - 770.913.0802
