Swimming Pools as Heat Sinks for Air Conditioners

This paper describes the results from demonstrations and modeling of a retrofit technology for allowing air conditioner waste heat to be rejected to a swimming pool. The field test results showed that the technology reduced air conditioning energy use by 13% while also providing pool heating that increased pool temperatures by an average of 2.3°F during the monitoring period. The retrofit technology provided the largest benefit during hot conditions with a 31% improvement in air conditioning efficiency when outdoor temperatures were above 95°F. Simulations showed the technology can achieve over 500 kWh of annual cooling energy savings for a home in warmer climate zones while cooler climate zones showed minimal savings. The cost and complexity of the retrofit installation represents a market barrier, but this could be overcome as contractors gain more experience with the system or increased development by the manufacturer that results in a more straightforward installation.