The California legislature has changed the law effective January 1, 2008 with the passage of the new energy efficiency laws entitled “California Energy Commission Title 20”. The new law unambiguously states that all swimming pool filtration pumps with motors greater than 1 horsepower manufactured after 1-1-2008 shall have the capability of operating at two or more speeds. The low speed rate of rotation may not exceed more than ½ of the motors maximum rotation rate. However confusing please see the following paragraphs and I will break this new rule down for a lay person to understand. The interesting news is the legislature did not stop by requiring all new filtration motors to be two speed, multiple speed and or variable speed; the new rule section 1605.3 g subsection 5a states that no motors manufactured after 1-1-2006 may be split phase or induction type motors. Since this is the most common type of motor and is installed on tens of thousands of pools in the Coachella Valley alone we have some work to do. The simple interpretation of this law is that when your current pool motor dies, or burns up the required replacement is a two speed, multiple speed and or a variable speed. While change is always scary you have placed your trust in very skilled and knowledgeable hands, Hire Standards has installed more two speed, multiple speed and variable speed pumps since September 2006 than any other contractor in North America. This change will not only benefit your pocketbook but will reduce your energy consumption and could qualify you for rebates or other benefits.

Title 20, California Appliance Efficiency Regulations, 1605.3, g (1-6)

(g) Pool Heaters, Residential Pool Pumps, and Portable Electric Spas.

(1) Energy Design Standard for Natural Gas Pool Heaters. Natural gas pool heaters
shall not be equipped with constant burning pilots.

(2) Energy Design Standard for All Pool Heaters. All pool heaters shall have a
readily accessible on-off switch that is mounted on the outside of the heater and that allows
shutting off the heater without adjusting the thermostat setting.

3) Energy Efficiency Standard for Heat Pump Pool Heaters. For heat pump pool
heaters manufactured on or after March 1, 2003, the average of the coefficient of performance
(COP) at Standard Temperature Rating and the coefficient of performance (COP) at Low
Temperature Rating shall be not less than 3.5.

(4) Energy Efficiency Standards for Gas and Oil Pool Heaters. See Section
1605.1(g) for energy efficiency standards for gas and oil pool heaters that are federally regulated consumer products.

(5) Residential Pool Pumps.

(A) Motor Efficiency. Pool pump motors manufactured on or after January 1, 2006
may not be split-phase or capacitor start - induction run type.

(B) Two-Speed Capability.

(i) Pump Motors. Pool pump motors with a capacity of 1 HP or more which are
manufactured on or after January 1, 2008, shall have the capability of operating at two or more
speeds with a low speed having a rotation rate that is no more than one-half of the motor's
maximum rotation rate.

(ii) Pump Controls. Pool pump motor controls manufactured on or after January 1,
2008 shall have the capability of operating the pool pump at least two speeds. The default
circulation speed shall be the lowest speed, with a high speed override capability being for a
temporary period not to exceed one normal cycle.