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Energy efficient pool keeps Hemingford residents cool
by Kevin Wickham, The new public swimming pool in Hemingford, Neb., kept residents cool this summer and took a little heat off the city's budget with energy-efficient pool heating technology. The village in the Nebraska Panhandle held a grand opening for its new $1.1 million, zero-depth swimming pool last spring. Although most residents weren't aware of it, the event also celebrated Hemingford's leadership in municipal energy efficiency. Village officials decided to spend more in upfront costs by installing six, 5.5-horsepower, Heat Siphon heat pumps to replace the pool's old natural gas boiler. "These systems are in use in Arizona and California, where they have year-round pools, but we're probably the first town in Nebraska to install it on a public pool," said Utilities Superintendent Dan Swanson. New technology, familiar components The initial cost of the energy efficient heat pumps will be recovered through lower energy costs. City Administrator Peggy Sheldon estimates the payback period to be six to seven years. Swanson and Sheldon said that since screw-type heat pumps are fairly new technology to heating swimming pools in the area, both state and city engineers scrutinized the equipment carefully before approving the installation. A local contractor installed the six units and trained the utility's crew on operation and maintenance. "It took about two minutes," said Swanson. "The system is really simple." The heat pump consists of a compressor, heat exchanger and fan, and connects to the main system with PVC plumbing. All parts that will be familiar to anyone who works with that kind of equipment, noted Swanson. The heat pumps are designed specifically for recreational water heating. "They're not like a residential heat pump. These are strictly for pulling heat out of the air," said Swanson. Greater efficiency, reliability According to the manufacturer, the heat pump extracts four to five Btus for every unit of electrical energy it consumes. "The initial cost is about three times what a gas boiler would have been," said Swanson. "But the payback in savings is phenomenal." Sheldon said the community expects to save $4,000-5,000 per year on energy costs. Over the lifespan of the heat pumps, the community should realize significant savings. The heat pumps contribute to improved energy efficiency since the six units run separately and operate only when needed. The system was able to heat the pool water from 64 to 89 degrees in only two days, "Way faster than the old boiler could have," Swanson said. "Once the water temperature gets up to where it needs to be, after a really cold night, it might kick on two or maybe three pumps to maintain that pool temperature," he added. The system also improves reliability, something residents will appreciate on hot summer days. "Before, we just had one boiler and ran it. If the boiler went down, we were dead in the water with only one heat source," Swanson explained. "Now if one pump goes down we have five other heat sources." Good investment for municipalities Swanson heard about the heat pumps from Bryce Landen, a commercial business account consultant for Nebraska Public Power District. NPPD is the wholesale electricity supplier to Hemingford. "I've worked with Bryce for years and he's always suggesting new equipment for us to check out." Swanson believes that other towns should check out the heat pumps if they have swimming pool heated by gas or electric boilers. If municipalities look at the big picture when choosing equipment, he said, "There is really only one choice." Hemingford is a member community of NMPP Energy, a joint-action agency based in Lincoln, Neb. NMPP Energy is composed of four organizations that provide wholesale electricity, wholesale natural gas, retail natural gas and utility related services to nearly 200 communities in seven Midwest and Rocky Mountain states. Please visit our home page at http://www.wapa.gov/es/pubs/esb/default.htm |
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