Pool Heating Energy Estimator

Live energy model using Fort Myers NOAA climate normals. Updates in real time as you adjust inputs. Calculates monthly kWh, simulates 24-hour pool temperature for each month, and shows whether your pump schedule allows the heat pump to maintain your desired setpoint.

135kBTU/hr
LIVEUpdates
24hSimulation
1

Pool Physical Characteristics

Surface area drives heat loss. Volume determines thermal mass and temperature swing over a 24-hour period.

ft² — length × average width
gallons — affects temperature swing in 24h sim
affects solar heat absorption — note: pool water absorbs ~75% of solar regardless of color; color affects the remaining fraction absorbed at pool floor/walls
2

Pump & Heat Pump Schedule

The heat pump can only run while the circulation pump is running. Shorter pump schedules limit heating capacity in cold months and may prevent achieving your setpoint.

optimal: start as sun rises to maximize solar + heat pump COP
1–24 hrs — more hours = greater heating capacity
LCEC avg $0.145/kWh (2023 actuals per Palmetto Solar); FPL similar
Daily Schedule Visualization
Heat pump & pump ON
Pump ON / HP at setpoint
Pump OFF
3

Site & Environment

Wind is the #1 amplifier of evaporative loss. A screened enclosure can cut total heat loss by 40–60%.

solar blankets cut evap ~90%; rigid ~98%
4

Water Features & Spa

Aerated surfaces dramatically increase evaporative heat loss. Click to toggle each feature on/off.

Fountain+35% evap when running
💦
Bubbler / Sheer Descent+12% evap when running
🌊
Waterfall / Spillover+25% evap — includes spa spillover agitation
5

Monthly Temperature Setpoints

Desired pool temp each month. Uncheck months you do not want to heat. Fort Myers climate data (TMY3) shown for reference.

°F
MonthAvg AirHumidityAvg WindDaily Solar Target Pool TempHeat?
6

Usage Pattern

How and when you heat the pool is often the biggest variable in annual cost.

7

SHEPH Solar Panel Sizing SOLAR HYBRID ELECTRIC POOL HEATING

Size a PV array to offset heat pump electricity. Uses NSRDB irradiance data with a proper plane-of-array calculation (Liu-Jordan beam model + isotropic diffuse + Erbs split).

typical 2026 residential: 440–475 W
tilt from horizontal; optimal for Fort Myers ~22–26°
0° = true south; no shading assumed
📊 Energy Analysis Results
Built Right 135XW • Fort Myers, FL • Updates live

Annual Temperature Achievement & Energy Consumption

Bars = monthly kWh. Lines = target setpoint vs. simulated achieved temperature (daily high/low range). Click any month bar to drill into its 24-hour profile below.

← click a month to jump to 24h sim

24-Hour Pool Temperature Simulation

Converged steady-state daily cycle for the selected month. Shaded = pump active. Dashed = setpoint. Yellow = what pool would be without heating.

Monthly Heat Loss Breakdown

All values are 24h averages from hourly simulation. Solar is zero at night — directly comparable to loss values.

SHEPH Solar Sizing — Panel Production vs. Heat Pump Consumption

Monthly comparison of heat pump kWh demand vs. solar panel array production. Surplus production shown above the consumption bar.

Cumulative Year-to-Date — Solar Banking vs. Heat Pump Draw

Running totals showing when the array's seasonal surplus builds up and when it gets drawn down. The gap between lines at year-end = net energy position; gap during the year = monthly bank balance.

🔬 Engineering Methodology & Show Work

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