High Desert Sunshine to Heat Antelope Valley College Swimming Pool

Tuesday, March 05, 2002

Advanced Conservation Systems Inc. (ACS), a Lancaster based solar contractor, has completed the installation of a Heliocol solar pool heating system that will heat the Olympic sized indoor swimming pool at the Antelope Valley College.

The Heliocol solar pool heating system for the college pool has 3200 sq. feet of Heliocol solar collector mounted on the roof over the swimming pool. The system is thermostatically controlled and utilizes energy from the Ca. High Desert sun to help keep the pool water at a comfortable 86 degrees. Stephen Jenkins of ACS estimates the solar contribution to the college pool will average over 6 million BTUs a day. 

The AVC campus facilities supervision decided to investigate solar pool heating because of the substantial amount of natural gas necessary to keep the pool warm was costing the college tens of thousands of dollars annually. 

After completing their research the college determined that Heliocol solar was proven to be the most reliable and efficient solar pool heating system, and was backed by the best warranty. AVC contacted the Heliocol North American distribution center in Florida and learned that ACS, one of the most successful Heliocol solar contractors in California, was based, and has been in operation 25 years, right here in the Antelope Valley.

Stephen M. Jenkins the president of ACS said that ACS installed 72,000 sq. feet of Heliocol solar collector in 2001, but the AV College pool solar is their single largest job so far. A solar savings analysis that is based on the projected future savings on the cost of natural gas used for heating the pool showed that the AVC Heliocol solar pool heater will completely pay for itself within 3 years. Mr. Jenkins said that a Heliocol solar heater on an outdoor pool is even more cost effective. 

Heliocol solar heated pool owners boast a 200 to 300 percent increase in the length of their swimming season, plus the solar affords its owner to enjoy extravagantly high pool water temperatures much of the season; and all without incurring any energy cost. 

Mr. Jenkins said that including a Heliocol solar heater with the construction of a new swimming pool typically adds about 20% to the cost of the project, but it is well worth the investment if your intention in building a pool is to go swimming.