Episode 159: DOE Law and VS Pump Sales Tactics with Jeff Farlow, James Roberts, and Kevin Harms of Pentair

Episode Summary:  Today, we sit down with Pentair’s Aftermarket Program Manager James Roberts, Program Manager of Energy Initiatives Jeff Farlow, and Associate Product Manager for Pool Pumps Kevin Harms.  Vital to the pool industry is the Department of Energy, which among other things promotes the raising of energy efficiency standards in every sector throughout the country. Pools are identified as the second-largest energy users in homes out of what Jeff calls the “big three”:  air conditioning, pool pumps, and hot water heating.  Listen in as Jeff, James, and Kevin discuss the DOE’s new Dedicated Purpose Pool Pump (DPPP) regulations which go into effect on July 19, 2021, and what pool companies need to know as these regulations are rolled out, including sales tactics for communicating to homeowners the need and benefits of switching over to variable speed pumps.  Topics Discussed:  00:47 - Jeff Farlow, James Roberts, and Kevin Harms Intro  05:06 - Why the DOE is vital to the pool industry  09:13 - DOE’s new Dedicated Purpose Pool Pump (DPPP) laws  12:01 - How pool professionals can explain these laws  22:10 - Variable speed sales tactics and tools  31:55 - Suggestions to homeowners who aren’t willing to upgrade