GreenWire is very proud to represent the Pentair Variable Speed Pool Pump. Pentair has set the bar very, very high with variable speed pump technology. These are quality built pumps that move the same amount of water but save 70-90% in electricity. The VS-3050 model has 4 predetermined speeds built right into the top of the pump. Here is a typical example of how the pump works:
GreenWire recently finished a project whereas the old pump was a 2HP pump that used 2,000 watts of electricity and ran 8 hours a day. The pool size is 13,500 gallons. The old pump moved 100 gallons of water per minute. The total amount of water moved in an 8 hour period is 100x60x8=48,000 gallons. The old pump turned over the water 3 times per day.
GreenWire removed and replaced the exisitng pump and install a new VS-3050 and a flowmeter into the exisitng 2 inch pipe. The new pump can pump 160 gallons, 80 gallons, 40 gallons or 20 gallons per minute by simply pressing the speed button on the pump. The energy draw is 2000 watts, 1000 watts, 400 watts and 70 watts respectively for each speed. The basic principle of moving states: The slower you move it the less horsepower you need to do it. We used to move water with big motors because we didn't care about energy savings. Now we have learned to move water slower over a longer period of time and the horsepower can be decreased by 70-90% which saves a lot of energy even though the time increases by double or triple. It should also be noted the pump runs very, very quiet especially at the lowest speeds.
GreenWire asked the customer: Why do you filter 8 hours per day? The answer was quite typical. "Because, that is what we always have done." "I am pretty sure the pool guy recommended that years ago and we just left it". Well there actually is a calculation that should be used. The pool water will remain clean if you turn it over between one and one and a half times per day.
GreenWire set the new pump up to run on speed two which pumps 40 gallons per minute at 400 watts for 8 hours per day. This will filter a total amount of water equaled to 40x60x8=19,200 gallons. After weeks of running with these settings in the summer the pool stayed crystal clear and the customer was thrilled. The savings per year are based on this calculation: 2000x8x365/1000x.15=$876.oo per year - versus - 400x8x365/1000x.15=$175.00 per year. The cost of the pump installed was $1500 less a $400 rebate from the utility. This resulted in a $1100 net with a payback of less than two years. Additional savings were realized by installing a skip timer to operate the poolsweep every other day instead of daily.
