A water heater includes a heat exchanger, a heat pump, a first valve in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the heat pump, and a controller configured to control the first valve. The first valve can be configured to direct water flow toward at least one of the gas heater or the electric heat pump. A second valve in fluid communication with the first valve and the heat pump can be provided, and the controller can be further configured to control the second valve. A water heater inlet and a water heater outlet can be included and in fluid communication with the first valve, and the controller can be configured to monitor a temperature of water entering the water heater inlet and control the first valve dependent upon the monitored temperature.

A publicly accessible urban beach entertainment complex is disclosed, with a man-made tropical, pristine-clear lagoon as the centerpiece of the complex. The lagoon includes a surf feature and surrounding the lagoon are entertainment, educational, sports, and commercial facilities. The complex has a controlled public access and provides the look and feel of a tropical beach with clear waters and sandy beaches. In addition a method for efficiently utilizing facilities and land that are vacant, underutilized, have limited uses, or that are contiguous to or nearby recreational, educational, sports, or commercial venues is disclosed. The method providing a publicly accessible urban beach entertainment complex with a centerpiece man-made tropical-style pristine-clear lagoon having a surf feature. The method allows for generating revenue and increasing efficiency by pairing vacant sites, underutilized sites, limited use land, or sites that are contiguous to entertainment, educational, sports, and/or commercial venues with urban beach entertainment complexes. The complex preferably has a controlled public access, thereby allowing entrance upon payment of a fee.

A heater including a housing, a first tankless heater, a second tankless heater, a first and second flow directing elements, the first flow directing element in communication with the first tankless heater and the second flow directing element and the second flow directing element in communication with the second tankless heater, and a controller in communication with the first and second tankless heaters and the first and second flow directing elements, the controller configured to control the first and second flow directing elements to control flow to one or both of the first and second tankless heaters.

A hot tub includes a body forming an interior area to be filled with water; a main section formed within the interior area; a secondary section partitioned off from the main section by a wall; and a drain extending from the main section and into the secondary section; the drain is to fill the secondary section from water within the main section.

A system including a heat production unit for heating water of a pool, an electrical connection, a photovoltaic and/or wind-powered renewable electricity generator, the system configured to switch between a mains mode and a renewable mode, a temperature sensor, and a control unit. When the system is in renewable mode and the current temperature is less than a predetermined maximum temperature, the unit controls the heat production unit to heat the water. When the system is in mains mode and the current temperature is less than a predetermined minimum temperature, the unit controls the heat production unit to heat the water. When the system is in renewable mode and the current temperature falls below the minimum temperature, the unit switches the system to mains mode. When the system is in mains mode and the current temperature rises above the minimum temperature, the unit switches the system to renewable mode.

The disclosed technology includes systems and methods for operating a pool water heating system. The pool water heating system can include a heat pump, a supplemental heat source, a water temperature sensor, and a controller. The controller can be configured to receive water temperature data and, in response to determining that the temperature of the water is less than a threshold temperature, output a control signal to activate the heat pump. The controller can further determine an expected heating time that can be indicative of an amount of time required for the temperature of the water to be greater than or equal to the threshold temperature. The controller can also generate a heating schedule based at least in part on the expected heat time and a predetermined time of use. The heating schedule can be indicative of a heat pump operation time and a supplemental heat source operation time.

A publicly accessible urban beach entertainment complex is disclosed, with a man-made tropical, pristine-clear lagoon as the centerpiece of the complex. The lagoon includes a surf feature and surrounding the lagoon are entertainment, educational, sports, and commercial facilities. The complex has a controlled public access and provides the look and feel of a tropical beach with clear waters and sandy beaches. In addition a method for efficiently utilizing facilities and land that are vacant, underutilized, have limited uses, or that are contiguous to or nearby recreational, educational, sports, or commercial venues is disclosed. The method providing a publicly accessible urban beach entertainment complex with a centerpiece man-made tropical-style pristine-clear lagoon having a surf feature. The method allows for generating revenue and increasing efficiency by pairing vacant sites, underutilized sites, limited use land, or sites that are contiguous to entertainment, educational, sports, and/or commercial venues with urban beach entertainment complexes. The complex preferably has a controlled public access, thereby allowing entrance upon payment of a fee.

Systems and methods for providing network connectivity and remote monitoring, optimization, and control of pool/spa equipment are provided. Internet-of-Things (IoT) functionality is provided for pool and spa equipment in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Network connectivity and remote monitoring/control of pool and spa equipment is provided by various components such as a network communication and local control subsystem installed in pool/spa equipment, and other components. Also disclosed are various control processes (pool logic) which can be embodied as software code installed in any of the various embodiments of the present disclosure.

A temperature controlled structure assembly comprises an array of structural panels each including at least one channel formed therein. At least one channel of each of the structural panels is aligned with at least one of the channels of an adjacent one of the structural panels to form a continuous channel extending through the array of the structural panels. At least one functional panel overlays the array of structural panels and is exposed for contact with a user. At least one heat exchanging element is disposed within the continuous channel and configured to exchange heat with the at least one functional panel in order to heat or cool the at least one functional panel.

A customizable pool automation control system includes a system housing defining a protective enclosure. A processor is located within the housing. A plurality of expansion slots are formed with the housing, and operatively communicate with the processor. A plurality of modular external expansion cards are adapted for being custom selected by a user and inserted into respective expansion slots. The expansion cards are selected from a group consisting of a chlorine generator control, a water level control, a camera control, a valve actuator control, and a relay control.