In 2015, Sustainable Jersey issued its first ever State of the State report, detailing 57 sustainability goals as part of broader US-wide initiatives. Every year since, it has released updated reports detailing progress towards meeting these goals. We all have a role to play, and sometimes there are trade-offs, for example in the cars we drive and the buying decisions we make. You might think an electric home sauna would be at odds with sustainable living, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
In fact, home saunas are growing in popularity as they have become more affordable over the past decade. More than 50 percent of home saunas sold use an electric heater, but innovative technology, both in the construction of the saunas and in the heaters themselves, combine to mean buyers in New Jersey can allow themselves the luxury of a home sauna without having to compromise on their sustainability principles.
A choice of electric sauna heaters
US online sellers can supply electric sauna heaters in a range of sizes from 4.5 KW right up to 21 KW. Of course, the smaller the heater, the lower its power consumption, but choosing the most eco-friendly option does not simply mean opting for the smallest heater.
It is more important to choose an electric sauna heater that will operate efficiently. That depends to a large extent on the area to be heated, but also on the construction of the sauna itself – of which more in a moment. The point is that if you try to use a sauna heater with too low a power output for a larger sauna, you are not achieving anything positive. The heater will simply have to work longer and harder, using more energy and delivering lower efficiency.
So simply choose a power output that is appropriate for your chosen sauna size. The usual rule of thumb for an adequately insulated sauna is one KW for every 45 cubic feet. For example, a sauna measuring six by six by eight feet has a total volume of 288 cubic feet, so a 6.5 KW heater would be appropriate.
Energy efficient construction is key
Most of the saunas sold today come in prebuilt kit form. It is their availability and affordability that has driven the growth of the US sauna market over recent years, and caused it to spread from the northern states across the nation, and specifically, to New Jersey.
Reputable sellers take sustainability seriously, and it should come as standard. This is, however, something that is important to check. Ensure that the wood is sourced from responsibly managed forests and that the wood is processed for both durability and insulation.
The above is particularly important if you choose a barrel sauna. These have an inherently energy efficient design, as the rounded sides reduce the internal volume – so you only heat the space you need. The downside can be that they do not usually have extra layers of insulation. Models like the Thermory, however, are manufactured from Nordic spruce trees that have been sustainably grown and thermally modified using a a chemical-free process that makes them better natural insulators.
Weighing up the alternatives
Of course, there are other alternatives to an electric sauna heater, the main ones being gas or wood. However, these are also carbon fuels, and their efficiency is unlikely to be any better. In fact, it could be worse. Electric heaters are easier to control, so you can set an exact temperature. Furthermore, they can be set remotely, so are only powered up when absolutely necessary.
Industry research suggests that even at today’s New Jersey utility prices, residents could run a modern electric sauna with a 4.5 KW heater every other day and it would cost less than $5 per week in electricity. It equates to the sort of luxury we can all enjoy with a clear conscience.
