SPLASH! Environmental Residential Project of the Year
The winning residential pool in the 2010 SPLASH! Environmental Awards was designed by A Total Concept Landscape Architects and built by Pride Pools.
The judges found this pool to be the best entry, as it covers all the criteria: energy efficiency, water efficiency, chemical efficiency as well as noise minimisation and re-use of excavation material.
It has an automatic slatted swimming pool cover, which can have a very substantial effect on water efficiency as well as energy efficiency by minimising heat loss. The fact that the cover is automatic is an advantage, as the convenience means it is more likely to be used by the owners, therefore maximising the benefits. The pool cover also assists with keeping dirt, leaves and organic matter out of the pool. This helps reduce chemical and filtration requirements, which in turn reduces chemical usage, and water usage through less need for backwashing.
The pool features a 10,000 litre underground rainwater tank linked to a Davey Rainbank rainwater management pump. The water is used for pool top up, as well as watering the garden and lawns, and toilet flushing.
It features a glass fence which reduces wind-borne evaporation, and a Hurlcon sand filter with Zelbrite filter media which reduces the required frequency of backwashing and therefore the volume of lost backwash water. The garden features waterwise plants and native varieties.
The pool is heated via Autumn solar. The Remco pool cover, glass fencing and planted windbreak reduce wind-borne heat loss and maximise the effect of the solar heating. Additionally, pool siting and interior colour were chosen with thermal efficiency in mind. Lighting is by AquaStar low-voltage LED lights.
The pool utilises twin pumps to enable more efficient and economical use of power. The pool equipment is situated under the house to make it quieter for use at off-peak times, and the excavated material was re-used in the landscaping.
The pool has a wet edge, which is very attractive but can increase water loss. However, the judges decided that the water-friendly features of the pool outbalanced the negatives. One judge commented that the pool cover and water tank actually enabled the use of a wet edge. Additionally, the pool features a winter mode for the balance tank so it can be turned off.
