Macclenny, Glen St. Mary Residents Impressed by Solar Savings

It has been nearly a year since Jerry and Lynn Mareth of Glen St. Mary decided to take the plunge for their in-ground pool and install a solar pool heating system.

Since that time, Jerry says the couple is saving about $80 to $100 a month on their electric bills as a result.

"Our other house had an electric heating system on the pool, so I know it was running about $1,200 a year to keep it heated," Jerry said.

When the couple moved its family into their new home off Hunter’s Ridge Road last year, and with electric rates going up dramatically at the time, Jerry said they had already decided to go the solar route.

"We use a blanket to keep it insulated, and I’m sure that helps some, but using the sun to heat it is a major benefit when it comes to our electric bills."

Sunworks Solar Systems, Inc. was hired by the Mareths to install the new system. The company is based in Jacksonville and has been active in the solar power industry since the early 1970s.

Sunworks president David H. Smith says solar heating systems for pools are typically the easiest for the company to install and can have dramatic results – especially for families that have been using electric power for heating.

"Homeowners who own a pool have a significant amount of money invested in it, and every month they invest more in the way of chemicals, maintenance and electricity for the filter pump," Smith said. "By heating your pool, you will realize the full benefit of pool ownership and maximize your investment and can spend more time enjoying it."

The other heating option, the heat pump, works on the same principle as air conditioners – using electric motors, a compressor and refrigerant. Heat pumps have a life expectancy of eight to 12 years. On occasions when solar is not feasible, a heat pump may be your best alternative.

"Generally the cost of installing a solar pool heating system is comparable to that of a heat pump," Smith said. "The big difference is that a solar system uses the sun's free energy, so there’s no cost of operation. A properly installed solar pool heating system will provide free solar heat for 15 to 20 years."

A solar heating system uses the existing filter pump to circulate water, but a diverter valve installed just down stream of the filter redirects the water so that it flows through a solar collector and is warmed by the sun. The warm water flows back to the pool until the pool has reached the desired temperature. Once the water reaches that point, it bypasses the solar collectors and returns directly to the pool. All the solar system plumbing is installed at the pool equipment and uses the existing returns to the pool.

The system can be turned on and off manually, or an automatic solar control, similar to the thermostat used in the home, can be installed.

Using solar energy to heat pools is not a new idea. Hundreds of thousands of pool owners have been enjoying their solar heated pools for more than 30 years.

Smith says solar pool heating systems served as the "bread and butter business" for most solar installation companies throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Both commercial clients, like hotels and colleges, and residential customers realized solar systems were the most cost-effective for pool heating.

"The main reason they have always been so popular is that they can more than double your swim season," Smith said. "Now that electricity prices are so high, they can cut your monthly bill and they are good for the environment."

Wallace Smith, who lives in Macclenny, called Sunworks four years ago to install a solar pool heating system at his home.

"I had read about solar for a lot time and was interested in getting free hot water," Smith said. "It certainly beats running an electric heater."

Smith recommends solar as a great alternative to electric or gas pool heating.

"We live in Florida and have a lot of sunny days," he said. "Even when the temperatures drop, you can keep on using the pool. It just makes sense."

Although pool systems remain popular, increasing energy prices along with federal tax incentives and state rebates approved last year are generating more calls from homeowners to install solar-powered water heaters in their homes."

"The water heater is usually the second-highest user of power in a home or office, so most of the incentives are directed at solar hot water systems and solar electric (photo voltaic) systems on homes," Smith said. "Regardless of what solar product the homeowner wants, they can feel good about what they are doing – lowering their monthly bills and doing their part to help keep our air cleaner."

For more information, contact Sunworks at 904-731-2099 or visit www.solarenergy.com.

Media Contact: Ron Whittington (904-563-0402)