Photos courtesy Poolscape Inc./Julia Lio

Poolscape's 'green pool' installation in Georgetown, Ont., incorporates several eco-friendly features in addition to energy-efficient equipment.

Poolscape Inc., recently welcomed its product suppliers, subtrades and Pool & Spa Marketing to the site of one of Canada's greenest luxury pool installations, where visitors got a first-hand look at the completed project and its various eco-friendly features.

Located in the small community of Georgetown in Halton Hills, Ont., the project comprises a concrete-tiled swimming pool with an integral hot spa and chill pool, enclosed in an energy-efficient glass structure with operable skylights.

"The overall goal was to make it as efficient as possible," said Poolscape owner, Barry Justus. "The design process stretched over eight months, as it was important for everyone involved to build an extremely energy-efficient luxury pool."

To achieve this goal, Justus approached several suppliers about the special project and received an enthusiastic response.

"Gary Scott (Zodiac Pool Systems Canada Inc.) was extremely helpful during the brainstorming design sessions and Jake Hamoen (JTH Best Engineering Inc.) provided input on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and overall energy conservation," he said. "I also met several times with Mark Albertine and Bruce Marsh (OpenAire Inc.) to discuss the enclosure's design and overall benefits, while Steve Hamoen (Zonelife Inc.) provided expertise on geothermal heating."

Today, a new swimming pool installation that includes an energy-efficient, variable speed pump is nothing new; however, this pool project incorporates several eco-friendly features in addition to energy-efficient equipment. For example, a geothermal heating/cooling system was installed to share energy between the home and the pool environment, while an automatic water management system, combined with energy-efficient plumbing, optimizes water and energy consumption.

"One of our goals was to add a 186-m² (2,000-sf) building, plus a 121-m² (1,300-sf) bunker—in addition to the swimming pool, chill pool and hot spa—and not increase the original energy costs for the existing residence," Justus explains. "This was achieved by converting the home to geothermal heating and air conditioning, and as a result, the client's savings are large and ongoing."

In terms of electrical efficiency, the client is also able to save kilowatt hours (kWh) and money on monthly electricity consumption thanks to programmable timers and automation equipment.

To learn more about this energy-efficient project, watch for the case study in the September/October issue of Pool & Spa Marketing.

Those in attendance for Poolscape's project unveiling included (L-R): Shaen O'Keefe (Kap Air); Jason Cramp (Pool & Spa Marketing); Jake Hamoen (JTH Best Engineering Inc.); Deborah Baker and Mark Albertine (OpenAire Inc.); Al Saunders (Kap Air); Gary Scott (Zodiac Pool Systems Canada Inc.); Steve Hamoen (Zonelife Inc.); Fred Breen (Colbree Enterprises); Terri-Lynn Kellen and Blair Adams (Pool & Spa Marketing); Carlos Pimental, Tony Reis, Jessie Pimental, Aaron Ready and Barry Justus (Poolscape Inc.); Kim Lockhart (Kim Lou Maintenance); and Clint and Derek Street (Clinton Electric).