Edison may end two-speed pump rebates

Southern California Edison has been offering rebates for both two-speed pumps and variable speed pumps. Starting sometime in 2010, it may discontinue rebates for two-speed pumps, and issue them only for variable speed pumps.

Meanwhile, other states are following California’s lead and are either considering or have already adopted energy-efficiency regulations similar to Title-20.

In my opinion, variable speed pumps are not ready for mainstream use.  They are still too complicated and buggy in terms of nuisance alarms and the frequent need to reset the processor to clear such alarms.

I see a wide open need for a ultra-efficient motor that is as simple as a two-speed.  So far it looks like Century New E Plus Centurion fits the bill.  See my youtube video for an installation and energy saving calculations.

California implements VGB Act

Shortly after the federal government passed the Virginia Graeme Baker Act, there was much confusion in the pool industry.

Prior to this point, pool contractors followed state and local building codes, not federal ones. Similarly, for the most part, local code enforcement agents enforced state and local ordinances, not federal Consumer Product Safety Commission standards.

What was one to do with this type of federal legislation? It would be a liability to ignore it, but it was also a bit of a financial gamble to quickly perform modifications that brought a pool into compliance with the federal act because, up to now, it was unclear as to how California would implement the federal act. 

It was a possibility that California would require some more restrictive standard, as did some localities.

In California the Spa & Pool Education Council (SPEC) sponsored a bill to implement the federal act. Just days ago, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed AB 1020 into law.

Hopefully, this will now lead to some uniformity in local enforcement.

California public pool requirements can be found here.

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (A112.19.8-2007) is now in effect. This is a new federal law that is designed to make pool drains safer. First off, it applies to all new drain covers sold -- commercial or residential. All approved covers will have "(ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007)" stamped on the exposed side of the cover. Secondly, the law also has more stringent criteria for commercial pools (this includes apartment, condominum, and home owner association pools). Basically the law requires some sort of back up safety device called a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS).

This back up device can be either a large "unblockable" drain, a second drain three feet or more away from the first drain, or it can be a SVRS device that senses a possible entrapment and either shuts off the pump or vents the suction line. There are several of these add-on SVRS devices. The Hayward Stratum both momentarilly shuts off the pump and vents the suction line to eliminate any residual suction. The VacAlert vents the line until it is manually reset, but the pump stays on (this could cause the pump to run dry). The Stingil and the Intelliflo VS=SVRS both shut off the pump if they sense an entrapment possibility.

There is much confusion regarding local implementation of this law. Local health and building departments have much latitude here. Be sure to contact them before making any expensive changes. Some localities such as Los Angeles County require you to drain the pool, so that they can inspect the cover and drain to make sure that it is compliant. Several proactive companies hired scuba divers to replace covers. These pools may now need to be drained and inspected.

Be sure to ask about inspection fees too. There is currently very little money dedicated to enforcement and localities are paying for it out of the inspection fees they charge.

Since enforcement will likely be hit and miss, much of compliance is left up to the property management company. Just as companies buy insurance to protect themselves against liability, an SVRS is also good liability insurance. The loss of a life in a pool that lacks this extra layer of protection would be disasterous in terms of the human loss and it could mean financial ruin for the property management companies and owners who are responsible.

SCE rebate form

Here is a link for Southern California Edison's two-speed and variable-speed pump rebates: http://www.sce.com/NR/rdonlyres/61A34CB4-441C-47BC-8994-A5350C20BD6A/0/2008_HEERApplication.pdf

Controversy over Title 20 and 3/4 hp pumps

The Independent Pool and Spa Service Association (IPSA) studied the effect of Title 20 on the use of 3/4 hp pumps. IPSA argues that this intermediate size of pump remains a practical and energy efficient option, and, as a result, should be exempt from the two-speed requirement.

Given IPSA's reluctance to embrace Title 20, their findings must be viewed with some suspicion. Nevertheless, the study makes an interesting and reasonable sounding claim. Theirs is a point that deserves further consideration and an independent study.

IPSA's study and conclusions can be found here: http://www.energy.ca.gov/appliances/2008rulemaking/2008-AAER-1B/public_comments/Residential_Pool_Pumps_and_Portable_Electric_Spas/IPSSA_Residential_Pool_Pump_Measure_Revision_TN-47889.PDF

Title 20 comments and replies

The May 15, 2008 California Energy Commission Energy Efficiency workshop solicited comments from those working in the pool industry. Here is a summary of comments and replies compiled by PG&E.

http://www.energy.ca.gov/appliances/2008rulemaking/documents/2008-05-15_workshop/comments/PGE_Response_to_Comments_regarding_Pool_Pumps.pdf