Variable-speed pumps and heat pumps.

Those are the two biggest energy-efficiency trends for pools right now.

A variable-speed pump will cut your electricity bill by 50–80% compared to a single-speed pump. That’s not a gimmick — it’s just running the pump slower when you don’t need full flow. Most pool pumps run way faster than necessary 90% of the time. The payback is usually under two years.

For heating, a heat pump is the efficient move. Gas heaters are cheap to buy but expensive to run. Heat pumps move heat rather than create it, so they use way less energy. They cost more upfront, but if you heat your pool for more than a couple months a year, they pay for themselves.

Solar covers are still the cheapest upgrade — they’ll trap heat and cut evaporation — but they’re not really a “trend.” They’ve been smart since the 80s.

Start with the variable-speed pump. Then the heat pump if you need heat. Everything else is nice-to-have.