Patent ID: 8370001

Claim:
An above-ground pool heating device for minimizing energy usage by monitoring water temperature of a pool and optimizing heat transfer used to affect the water temperature to a target temperature based on environmental conditions, the device comprising: a user interface for receiving the target temperature; an interface for receiving environmental temperature information from at least one environmental sensor and for receiving water temperature information from a pool water temperature sensor; and a processor configured to control a heat element and a circulation pump based on the environmental temperature information to adjust the water temperature in order to meet the target temperature by: controlling a first stage of operation to contribute at least a portion of the heat transfer needed to increase the water temperature towards the target temperature when the environmental temperature information is determined to be sufficient to increase the pool water temperature by circulating the pool water without using the heat element, the processor configured in the first stage to disable the heat element while providing for circulation of water in the pool by activating the circulation pump to increase the pool water temperature, wherein the pool water temperature is increased in the first stage by transferring heat from outer walls of the above-ground pool, and controlling a second stage of operation of the heating element to increase the pool water temperature to reach the target temperature when the environmental temperature information is determined to be insufficient to reach target temperature, the processor configured in the second stage to activate the heating element while providing for circulation of water in the pool by activating the circulation pump.