The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its first ENERGY STAR specification for pool pumps, offering the federal rating system to help consumers identify energy efficient equipment.
Single-speed, multispeed, variable-speed and variable-flow pumps are all eligible for certification. The main criteria will be an Energy Factor rating greater than or equal to 3.8. Energy Factor is defined as gallons per watt-hour of consumed electricity (gal/Wh). By this standard, then, pumps would need to deliver 3,800 gallons using 1 kWh to qualify.
In order to be certified and receive the ENERGY STAR label, manufacturers must have their pumps tested at an EPA-recognized lab, according to the protocols laid out by the Energy Star program. In addition, manufacturers must participate in results verification testing programs run by recognized certification bodies.
It is hoped that ENERGY STAR certified pool pumps will offer consumers a trusted brand to guide them in their product choices.
According to the EPA, pumps certified to the ENERGY STAR requirements will be, on average, 30-72% more energy-efficient than standard models and save consumers about $160 per year. An individual model’s efficiency will depend on the climate it is used in, the size of the pump, and the number of speeds it uses. If all pool pumps sold in the United States met these new requirements, the EPA says, the energy cost savings would grow to about $113 million per year and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 140,000 vehicles.
Launched in 1992 by EPA, ENERGY STAR is a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through superior energy efficiency. Over the past 20 years, with the help of ENERGY STAR, American families and businesses have saved over $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.8 billion metric tons of carbon pollution. The ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 65 different kinds of products with more than 5 billion sold.
