By Debra Prinzing
July 4, 2009
For Southern Californians trying to save water and reduce their use of energy, a pool may seem like the biggest unnecessary luxury around.

But with about 500,000 pools in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties combined — the largest concentration of pools in North America, according to research firm Pool List USA — pool culture is ingrained in the region. One change: Much of the industry, including designers, builders and suppliers, is reinventing itself and moving toward more sustainable ways of building and maintaining these water worlds.

“A typical lawn uses more water than a swimming pool, but in today’s market, people are looking for responsible luxury,” says Tim Honadel, co-owner of Pools by Ben, a Santa Clarita firm specializing in pool upgrades and energy-efficient systems.

Here are four steps you can take to improve the energy efficiency of your pool, whether you’re building or renovating.

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