If you’ve ever looked into building a pool and wondered what the ongoing costs would look like, you’re not alone. For many Sydney homeowners, it’s not the upfront price tag that gives them pause — it’s the fear of sky-high electricity bills, endless chemical top-ups, and equipment running around the clock.
The good news? An energy efficient pool in Sydney doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. With the right equipment and smart design choices, it’s entirely possible to slash your pool’s running costs by up to 90%. Here’s exactly how.
What Does It Really Cost to Run an Energy Efficient Pool in Sydney?
Before we talk about savings, let’s look at what a typical pool actually costs to run.
For the average Sydney pool, annual running costs break down roughly like this:
- Electricity (pump, filter, heating, lighting): $800–$1,200 per year
- Chemicals (chlorine, pH balancers, stabilisers): $300–$600 per year
- Water (top-ups, backwashing): $100–$200 per year
All up, most pool owners are spending somewhere between $1,200 and $2,000 per year just to keep things running — and that’s before you factor in occasional repairs or equipment replacements.
With NSW energy prices averaging around $0.30–$0.35 per kWh in 2026 (depending on your retailer and plan), the electricity component alone is a significant household expense. In fact, according to energy industry research, pool pumps can account for up to 18% of a home’s total electricity use.
The question isn’t whether you can afford to make your pool more efficient. It’s whether you can afford not to.
Variable Speed Pumps — The Biggest Single Saving
If there’s one upgrade that delivers the most dramatic reduction in pool running costs, it’s a variable speed pump.
Traditional single-speed pumps run at full power all the time — whether they’re filtering water, running a water feature, or simply circulating. That’s like driving your car in fifth gear through a school zone. A variable speed pump, on the other hand, adjusts its speed to match the task at hand.
The result? Energy savings of up to 80% on pump electricity costs.
Here’s how the numbers stack up for a typical Sydney pool:
| Pump Type | Annual Energy Cost (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Single-speed pump | $800–$1,200 |
| Variable speed pump | $150–$250 |
That’s a saving of $600 to $950 every single year — and the pump typically pays for itself within the first 12 to 18 months.
Variable speed pumps also run quieter and put less strain on your filtration system, which means fewer repairs and a longer equipment lifespan. It’s one of the smartest investments any pool owner can make.
Mineral Pools vs Traditional Sanitisation — Energy and Chemical Savings
Sanitisation is another area where the right choice makes a real difference to your hip pocket — and your swimming experience.
Traditional chlorine pools require regular manual dosing, constant monitoring, and a steady supply of chemicals. Saltwater chlorinators are a step up, but they still consume a fair amount of electricity to convert salt into chlorine through electrolysis.
Mineral pools take a different approach entirely.
A mineral pool system uses a blend of natural minerals to sanitise the water, producing a softer, gentler form of chlorine. The water has no harsh chemical smell, won’t sting your eyes, and feels remarkably smooth on the skin — like swimming in distilled water.
From a cost perspective, mineral pools offer several advantages:
- Lower chemical costs — fewer additives needed to maintain water balance
- Reduced equipment strain — gentler water chemistry means less corrosion and wear on pumps, filters, and heating systems
- Less maintenance time — more stable water means fewer interventions
Freshwater and mineral pool systems can be up to 50% cheaper to run than traditional chlorine setups when you factor in chemicals, equipment wear, and maintenance time.
At Mr Pools, mineral water comes as a standard upgrade on every pool we build — not a costly add-on. It’s one of the reasons our clients enjoy crystal clear water with dramatically lower ongoing costs.
Energy-Efficient Pool Heating Options
Heating is often the second-largest energy expense for pool owners, especially if you want to extend your swimming season beyond the warmer months. But not all heating systems are created equal.
Here’s how the three main options compare:
| Heating Type | Running Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Heat pump | Low ($400–$800/year) | Year-round, efficient heating |
| Solar | Very low ($50–$150/year) | Season extension (spring–autumn) |
| Gas | High ($1,200–$2,500/year) | Quick, occasional heating |
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are the standout for most Sydney homes. They work by extracting warmth from the surrounding air and transferring it to your pool water — delivering three to four times more heat energy than the electricity they consume. That makes them remarkably efficient, even during cooler months.
Solar Heating
Solar pool heating uses roof-mounted collectors to warm the water using free energy from the sun. Running costs are minimal (just a small circulation pump), and a good solar system can extend your swimming season by up to five months. The trade-off is that solar depends on sunshine, so it’s less reliable in winter.
Gas Heating
Gas heaters warm water fast, making them ideal for spas or pools you only heat occasionally. But the running costs are significantly higher — which is why they’re rarely the best choice as a primary heating system for energy-conscious pool owners.
A heat pump combined with a quality pool cover is the sweet spot for most Sydney households — keeping water warm efficiently while minimising heat loss overnight.
LED Pool Lighting — Small Change, Big Impact
Pool lighting might seem like a small detail, but the numbers tell a different story.
Traditional halogen pool lights are energy-hungry and burn out frequently. LED pool lights, by contrast, use up to 80% less electricity and last many times longer.
For a pool with multiple lights running regularly through the evening, that’s a meaningful saving on your electricity bill — plus far fewer replacement bulbs and service calls over the life of your pool.
LED lights also offer colour-changing options that can completely transform the look of your pool area after dark. It’s better performance, better ambience, and better value all at once.
As the team at Mr Pools explains in our pool equipment guide, planning your lighting and accessories before construction begins is the most cost-effective approach — and it’s something we help every client get right from the start.
Smart Pool Automation — Let Technology Do the Work
Smart pool automation systems tie everything together, making sure your pool runs at peak efficiency without you having to think about it.
A modern automation system can:
- Optimise pump schedules — running your variable speed pump at the lowest effective speed for the right duration, often during off-peak electricity periods
- Control heating — maintaining your target temperature efficiently and only heating when needed
- Monitor water chemistry — alerting you to any changes before they become costly problems
- Enable remote control — adjust settings from your phone, whether you’re at home or away
The real power of automation is in the compounding savings. When your pump runs smarter, your heater cycles less, and your chemicals stay balanced, every component of your pool operates more efficiently — and the savings multiply.
For families juggling busy schedules, automation also means less time spent on pool maintenance and more time actually enjoying the water.
How Mr Pools Builds Energy Efficiency In from Day One
At Mr Pools, energy efficiency isn’t an afterthought or an expensive upgrade — it’s built into the way we design and construct every pool.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Mineral pool systems as standard — delivering cleaner water with lower chemical and energy costs
- Right-sized equipment — we match pumps, filters, and heating to your specific pool, so nothing’s working harder than it needs to
- Smart design choices — pool size, depth, orientation, and plumbing layout all affect running costs, and we optimise for efficiency from the first sketch
- Quality construction — better-built pools hold heat longer, resist leaks, and require less maintenance over time
- Expert guidance — we’ll walk you through your options for heating, lighting, and automation so you can make informed decisions that suit your budget and lifestyle
When we say our custom pools can save you up to 90% on your power bills, this is how we get there. It’s not one magic feature — it’s the combined effect of variable speed pumps (up to 80% pump savings), mineral sanitisation (lower chemical and equipment costs), efficient heating (heat pumps delivering 3–4x their energy input), LED lighting (80%+ reduction), and smart automation tying it all together.
Every design decision compounds. And because we’ve been building pools across Sydney as part of the Aussie family-owned Conrina Group since 1993, we know exactly how to make those decisions count.
If you’re considering an inground pool and want to understand what it would really cost to own and run, we’d love to chat.
Claim your free 15-minute pool consultation now and let us show you how an energy efficient pool can deliver the backyard of your dreams — without the ongoing costs you’d expect.