Carlsbad Swim Center Case Study

“With the low cost of natural gas, it’s hard to want to put in solar pool heating at first, but the immediate and consistent utility bill savings combined with the rebates and other factors, it makes for a good return on investment”

Solar Thermal by the Numbers

Carlsbad swim center saves with solar water heating

Waterworks Aquatics installed two solar thermal systems at their Carlsbad Swim Center on separate occasions to offset the cost of heating multiple indoor swimming pools. As a business whose operation revolves around heating pools, the solar thermal systems have greatly offset energy costs. The first system was installed at initial construction in 2011, and in order to offset more natural gas and save more money, another was installed three years later.

Waterworks Aquatics’ latest solar thermal heating system qualified for a rebate of $13,118 and provides annual energy savings of nearly $1,500. These savings will pay back the entire cost of the system in less than four years. Owner Jon Alpert likes the systems so much he’s installed solar pool heating at four of his eight swim center locations.

Property Profile

System Owner: Jon Alpert, Waterworks Aquatics

Location: Carlsbad, CA

Site and System:

  • Carlsbad swim center lap pool set at 89 degrees Fahrenheit
  • 13 solar thermal collectors, feeding a 1,500 square foot pool
  • Year installed: 2014
  • Contractor: SUNTREK INDUSTRIES INC

Project Savings:

System cost: $26,900
CSI-thermal rebate: $13,118
Total out of pocket: $13,782
Annual energy savings: $1,500