By Vic Walker

To raise the temperature in a hot tub containing 1,552 L (410 gal) of water by one degree it takes 1 kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity.
Therefore, a 1-kW heater will take one hour to raise the temperature, while a 4-kW heater will accomplish this task in 15 minutes. A larger heater does not use more energy to heat the water, it just heats it faster.
Higher voltage does not mean more energy use, either. Watts (W) or kilowatts (kW) equals voltage times amperage. For example, a 1-kW heater at 110 V uses 9 amps, whereas a 1-kW heater at 220 V uses 4.5 amps. Therefore, both 110- and 220-V heaters use the same amount of electricity to heat the water.

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By Vic Walker

In today’s hot tub manufacturing environment, many improvements have come through the experience of other industries. For instance, the automobile manufacturing industry has proven the effectiveness of programs such as Lean,2 Just In Time3 (JIT), Kaizen4 (Japanese for ‘improvement’ or ‘change for the better’), and the International Organization for Standardization5 (ISO).
Many hot tub manufacturers are adopting these new techniques as ways to improve product work flow, manage inventory, and improve product quality. These programs are also important in reducing manufacturing waste.
Continuous improvement programs can deliver green manufacturing results through the very essence of Lean, which is waste reduction. In a quest to reduce operational waste on all fronts, the byproduct has always been reduced environmental waste. In fact, in the last few years, many companies have reduced manufacturing cycle times, process variability, and inefficiencies in all areas.

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Many hot tubs are sprayed with polyurethane foam, which fills any voids in and around the plumbing. Photo courtesy Dimension One Spas

By Vic Walker

Everyone understands the need for insulation; most homes built today have adequate insulation and meet the requirements and guidelines of California Energy Code (Title 24), The Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Non-residential Buildings. However, not thought about as often are the plethora of appliances consumers have in their home and the insulation systems they use.
From the wall-mounted oven or dishwasher to the side-by-side refrigerator, insulation either keeps the heat in or out. In fact, most people are surprised to learn that modern hot tubs use the same basic techniques and materials of a typical refrigerator.

Read the full article: Modern Hot Tubs—Efficiency Redefined

A key area that has helped hot tubs become more energy efficient is component design. Photo courtesy Dimension One Spas

By Vic Walker

A key area that has helped hot tubs become more energy efficient is component design. While all hot tubs basically use the same components (e.g. hydraulic pumps, heaters, light-emitting diode [LED] lighting, insulation, and reinforcement systems, etc.), it is the combination of all these (or some) that help the modern hot tub attain an energy-efficient design.
While most hot tub manufacturers do not design their own components, they work closely with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that specialize in component design unique to the hot tub environment.
As energy efficiency is always top of mind for most consumers, OEMs have focused on new and improved designs for hot tub manufacturers to utilize in their designs to help lower energy consumption and cost of ownership.

Read the full article: Modern Hot Tubs—Efficiency Redefined

Today’s hot tubs are complex, insulated appliances that are built to stringent energy-use guidelines. Photo courtesy Dimension One Spas

By Vic Walker

Early hot tub designs were not that energy efficient. Product design was focused more on promoting relaxation and the product’s social aspects rather than energy efficiency. For example, some of the first wooden hot tubs were gas heated, prone to leaks, and void of any insulation.
With the onset of fibreglass and acrylic manufacturing processes, self-contained portable hot tubs became more efficient by default. Jumping ahead more than 35 years, today’s hot tubs are complex, insulated appliances that are built to stringent energy-use guidelines.
In contrast, it should also be noted, many consumers still want an inground plaster hot tub when they install a pool. These designs are beautiful and may look more integrated, but in the areas of energy efficiency, they cannot be compared to a self-contained hot tub.

Read the full article: Modern Hot Tubs—Efficiency Redefined