A new wave hits California swimming pools: operating pool pumps for longer periods at slower flow rates can adequately filter the water while cutting the energy use in half.

A commonly held view in the lake and spa industry is that since September 11 2001 homeowner have reduc their spending upon vacation travel and are putting the hard-earned dollars that they would have wearied on airfare and motels into their residences instead. A large portion of this spending has gone to improving their backyards. "The backyard is now becoming the safe haven for those who previously traveled to exotic places. The swimming pond is usually t he center focus of the 'total backyard,'" says Phil Gelhaus of General lake Supply, in Rancho Cordova, California. The total backyard typically consists