UTSA professor’s new study shows the hidden energy costs of swimming pools

(Nov. 30, 2015) -- A new study by Afamia Elnakat, associate professor of research in the UTSA College of Engineering and a member of the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute, has found that residents who have swimming pools see a massive difference on their energy bill compared to those who own homes without pools.
“The culprit here is the pool pump,” Elnakat said. “They’re electric, they’re on for multiple hours a day, sometimes continuously, all seasons.”
Most people are reluctant to change the pump settings or even touch them because they’re concerned about compromising their pool’s water quality. As a result homes with pools see an additional 30-50 percent more energy use because the pump is constantly running when it could be switched off for part of the day.
“Even in San Antonio, where electricity is pretty cheap,” Elnakat said, “that amounts to a $700 to $1000 difference in energy costs per year.”
Her study, published in the International Journal of Big Data Intelligence, is unique among energy studies because it utilizes big data. Elnakat and her co-authors, including fellow Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute professor Juan D. Gomez, made use of large amounts of unstructured data from San Antonio residential energy bills. The research is part of the institute’s ongoing mission of partnering with the San Antonio community and the CPS Energy Research Alliance to contribute to a new energy future.
“It’s so hot in San Antonio and we use swimming pools much more than most other areas,” she said. “The energy use, as it turns out, is making a big impact on our budget.”
Elnakat was surprised to find a hidden energy cost due to the pools since they’re generally known as water hogs. She expected that pools would cause increases on the water bill than the electric bill.
In the study, Elnakat noted that existing research has shown that people can easily adjust their pool pump so that it only runs for part of the day. Doing so could save hundreds on energy costs and still render a clean, safe swimming pool.
“If I’m house-hunting and see a pool, I automatically think about water usage and safety implications in addition to an asset to the home,” she said. “No one tells you to expect to pay more for energy. The pool pump is hidden, you’re not thinking about it.”
Elnakat hopes the study will contribute toward making people more aware of where their energy costs come from in their homes, and to interact more with their appliances.
“We have newer technologies. We even have solar pool pumps,” she said. “It would be good to know what kind you have and how it works. It’s all about the decision-making power this information gives you.”
-----------------------------Learn more about the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute.
Read Afamia Elnakat’s study, “Big data analysis of swimming pools’ impact on household electric intensity in San Antonio, Texas.”
Connect online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
Events
Join us to kickoff the spring semester! We will have events happening all week and please participate in all that you can. Learn about upcoming opportunities within your academic department in virtual sessions with faculty, alumni, and student organizations. This is a great way to get involved in the UTSA COE/CACP community.
Virtual EventThe Adobe Creative Campus Kickoff will introduce students to Adobe software and how they can use it to produce professional content for their courses. Students will learn about UTSA’s Adobe Creative Campus program and how they can access the software. Time permitting, there will be an overview of Adobe Creative Cloud.
Virtual EventWant to study abroad but aren't sure where to start? Our Study Abroad Information Session is a great way to hear about the options available to those interested in pursuing a global academic experience! Here you can learn about program types, scholarships, and other essential information!
Virtual EventTune in to learn about the best picks for having an easy and fun digital Spring. We will be introducing you to the new Blackboard experience and showing you how to access essential digital tools that are free! In this session, you’ll find resources that are UTSA exclusive.
Virtual EventZoom is now available to all UTSA faculty, staff and students as part of the newly acquired university site license! Join us as we review the features best practices for using this software for education and think about the best way to use it to work with fellow students, provide opportunities for student organizations, and more.
Virtual EventThe COE/CACP Student Success Center will help build your resume of experiences outside the classroom. Join us to learn about what we do, upcoming events, and how to get involved in the colleges.
Virtual EventMeet with Writing Center tutors to learn how we can help you with every stage of the writing process for your writing projects. Then learn about how to communicate a message effectively using Adobe Spark. Some of your creations will be featured on our Writing Center social media platforms!
Virtual Event