Clearwater Spas: Committed to Energy-Efficiency

I’ve owned a Clearwater Spa for 14 years and my family (my hubby and our two teenage sons) spend many a relaxing evening relaxing in it.

When I toured Clearwater Spas’ manufacturing plant in Woodinville, Washington last week, I commented that my spa still works beautifully after nearly a decade and a half of hard use.

“You build these things too well,” I told Marketing Director, Chris Warhol. “I need my hot tub to break down so I can upgrade to one of these splashy new models.” (And splashy they are, with floating remote controls, waterfalls, pop-up water fans, digital mood lighting, built-in stereo systems – even TVs!)

But what impressed me most is the company’s commitment to building energy-efficient spas.

“It’s the hallmark of our spas,” Chris told me.

As I toured the factory, I became firmly convinced that Clearwater Spas doesn’t just talk the “green” talk; they walk the talk. They’ve trademarked the term E-Smart Technology™, which stands for energy efficiencies, engineering, and environment.

GREEN MANUFACTURING

At their manufacturing facility, the focus is on providing a safe and healthy working environment for their employees. Rather than using fiberglass resin (a toxic, atmosphere-polluting Volatile Organic Compound), Clearwater Spas backs their Lucite shells with an environmentally-friendly eco spray. I stood next to a man who was applying EcoSpray® to a newly-molded spa, and I didn’t have the slightest trouble breathing (and I have mild asthma).

RECYCLING

They use 100% recycled ABS to fabricate the Dura Floors on all their spas, and they recycle 100% of their wood, plastic and cardboard waste.

INSULATION

Unlike other spas manufacturers, most of whom use spray insulation, Clearwater Spas uses a Reflective Thermal Barrier (RTB) insulation – a thick layer of hard insulation backed with thermal foil on both sides to reflect heat in and cold outside air away from the spa. RTB insulation is 12% more energy-efficient than foam-filled spas.

FLOORING

“Most spas don’t have a floor system; they just have a plastic bottom stapled on,” Chris told me. “When you set the spa on cold cement there’s a heat sink effect – cold air from the ground pulls heat from the hot tub into the ground.”

Not good.

Clearwater Spas lifts their spas off the ground, creating air space that allows heat to stay in the water, thus saving on energy costs. They are the only spa manufacturer that uses an insulated durafloor foundation; a thick layer of RTB insulation is built into the floor, further increasing the spa’s energy efficiency.

CEC-Certified

With Clearwater Spas’ commitment to E-Smart Technology™, it’s no wonder they’re among an elite group of about a dozen spa manufacturers nationally certified by the California Energy Commission (CEC) for meeting its stringent energy-efficiency guidelines.

Want to see for yourself? Schedule a free test soak at Rich's for the Home. Rich’s is the exclusive dealer of Clearwater Spas in the Puget Sound region.