“Having a hot tub is often criticized for being a wasteful use of energy,” he explains.
The heating, which typically operates even on days when the hot tub isn’t being used, is the primary cause of the extremely high energy consumption because it prevents the water from overcooling.
Prof. Borenstein was able to dig into the figures for his family since he studies energy economics at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.
He uses their hot tub frequently—roughly five times a week—along with his spouse.
“I would have to heat the hot tub for about half an hour every day on average to keep it hot.”
The hot tub is emptied and refilled around three times a year and filters for roughly six hours every day.
About eighteen percent of the electricity used in his home is used by the hot tub.
According to Prof. Borenstein’s calculations, the annual emissions of greenhouse gases from operating the hot tub are marginally lower than those from a one-way travel between Boston and London.
This is significant, leading some people to label hot tubs as “energy hogs,” along with swimming pools, second refrigerators, and heated outbuildings.
Hot tubs are perhaps the home appliances that use the most energy, according to Uswitch.
