Solar panels for the pool

research by Richard E. Gordon
richard@gordonrichard.com
last updated February 23, 2010

1. Possibility of heating the pool with solar panels
• Are solar panels a solution -- installed on the roof of the recreation building next to the pool?
  U.S. Dept. of Energy. First, there are different types of solar panels. We must first determine the type that would produce the most heat for each dollar spent for installation. "Don't choose a solar pool heating system or collector based solely on its estimated costs. When selecting a solar pool heater, it's also important to consider all of the factors involved in the system's sizing and quality of the design and installation."
  
  Pool cover. If we could cover the pool at the end of each day, we could keep the water warmer requiring less solar energy. This may seem impractical unless we consider a motorized pool cover. "Use of a pool cover also can help reduce the size of a solar pool heating system, which can save money...Automatic covers have permanently mounted reels that automatically cover and uncover the pool at the push of a button. They're the most expensive option, but they're also the most convenient."
  Necessity of pool cover from another source: "When you use a pool cover, it is much easier to maintain the desired temperatures. When you don’t use a pool cover, the heat rises each night and your heating process begins from scratch the next morning."
  
• How expensive would this solution be -- heating our pool with solar energy?
  APS. "Solar pool heating system prices for a residential pool can range anywhere from $4500 to $8000." Our pool is several times larger, I think, than the typical residential pool. So our cost range seems to me to be at least three times this amount. This APS site has an illustration showing a building similar to our recreation building. Also gives the answers to several relevant questions such as "Can we install our own solar panels?" Provides a tool for estimating the cost.
  
  We should keep in mind that solar panels could be used to heat the water from the pool shower and recreation building showers. I imagine we have now a conventional hot water heater for our showers.
  
• Are there Federal or State funds that would help pay for the cost? The State of Florida's solar rebate program provides a "$100 rebate for solar pool heaters." You can read the entire "Federal Stimulus Allocation Plan – State Energy Program (SEP) Funds." Another site stating the the Florida State rebate for solar pool heaters is only $100. A Google search on these words federal state funds solar panels pool florida brought up 160,000 hits.
  
  
• What contractors in the area -- Pinellas County -- might be able to handle the job? Solar Estimate gives information on contractors. Here you can get installers by inserting your zip code, and at the same site you can describe your job to get a contractor to reply to you. When I entered our zip code 34684 at the Solar Estimate site, I got information on thirteen contractors within fifty miles. The information included their certification and number of solar pool installations.
  
  A Google search on these terms solar panel pool installers Pinellas Florida brought up more than 13,000 hits.
  
  When I did a goggle search on these words heating pool solar panels florida, I came up with over 900,000 hits (possible sources of relevant information).