You may already have your very own sauna at home. Or perhaps, you are seriously considering buying one in the near future!
But, did you know that an inefficient sauna can seriously spike your energy bills?
In this guide, we’ll go through how you can optimise your home sauna energy efficiency without sacrificing your at-home spa experience.
Why does energy efficiency matter for my home sauna?
Energy efficiency in home saunas is crucial for both economic and environmental reasons.
A well-optimised sauna not only reduces your energy bills but also minimises your carbon footprint (good news if you want to make your wellness routine more sustainable!)
Energy bills and carbon footprint
A sauna, especially one used regularly, can consume a significant amount of electricity. Depending on the type and size of the sauna, energy consumption can range from 1.5 kW to 13 kW per session.
Inefficient usage, insulation, or heating systems can cause unnecessary energy waste, leading to higher utility bills. Over the course of a year, the cost can add up substantially.
Long term sustainability
The goal of energy efficiency is to minimise consumption without compromising comfort. By upgrading to energy-efficient sauna models or retrofitting your current setup with proper insulation and modern heating systems, you could potentially lower your utility costs.
Over time, these savings will pay you back for the initial investment, and the reduced energy use makes your sauna experience more environmentally friendly.
If you’re keen on getting the most bang for your buck, we hear you! We’ve pulled together the best budget sauna options available right now.
Home sauna energy efficiency comparisons
Each type of sauna — whether infrared, steam, or traditional—has distinct energy consumption profiles.
INFRARED SAUNAS
- Heat the body, rather than the air
- Use less energy – one of the most energy-efficient
- Consume between 1.5kW to 3kW on average (per hour of use)
TRADITIONAL – ELECTRIC
- Consume more electricity: up to 9-13kW per session, including the time to pre-heat
- Can be made energy-efficient with heat-retaining stones, smart heating systems
TRADITIONAL – WOOD
- Run solely off wood fuel
- Environmentally-friendly (if using sustainably sourced wood)
- Depending on region, can be a smart budget choice if firewood is readily & affordably available
STEAM (Steam Rooms)
- Consume more energy
- Need to heat water to create steam
- Can be optimised with better insulation and smart controls
While some might assume that energy efficiency means sacrificing luxury, modern sauna designs generally already combine luxury with sustainability.
Features like efficient insulation, smart thermostats, and low-energy heaters ensure that you get the full sauna experience you dream of, without unnecessarily high energy consumption.
When designing or choosing a home sauna, you want to select features that balance both energy efficiency and user comfort.
Insulation materials and their role in efficiency
Proper insulation plays a critical role in maintaining sauna temperatures and reducing energy consumption.
By preventing heat from escaping, effective insulation reduces the amount of energy needed to maintain high temperatures, significantly lowering overall energy consumption.
DIY saunas: insulation
Please Note: the following information discussing insulation materials and proper installation is most relevant when building or installing your own sauna.
Using the correct materials to prevent heat loss, maintain high temperatures efficiently, and ensure that moisture does not escape from the sauna is critical. Proper insulation is essential to consider when you’re setting up a sauna from scratch, whether it’s a DIY project or a custom installation.
However, if you’re buying a pre-built sauna, the insulation is typically already part of the design. In this case, you wouldn’t need to worry about sourcing or installing insulation materials yourself. You may still want to consider the type of insulation used in the model you’re purchasing, as it impacts both energy efficiency and overall performance.
For those interested in modifying or enhancing an existing sauna (e.g., improving its energy efficiency), adding or upgrading insulation could still be beneficial.
Some of the best insulation materials for saunas include fibreglass, mineral wool, and foil-faced insulation.
Fibreglass is affordable and widely used for its strong thermal resistance, while mineral wool offers excellent fire resistance and soundproofing. A vapour barrier, typically made of foil, is also crucial to block moisture and prevent heat loss.
DIY sauna: the benefits of foil-faced vapour barriers
Foil-faced insulation reflects heat back into the sauna, creating a sealed environment that keeps warmth contained, optimising the sauna’s energy efficiency. This vapour barrier helps maintain a stable temperature, reducing the heater’s energy requirements.
DIY sauna: proper installation for maximum efficiency
Ensuring the insulation is properly installed, with seams well-sealed, is key to minimising heat loss. Overlapping the vapour barrier by at least 4 inches and using foil tape on seams ensures no air leaks, further enhancing the sauna’s ability to retain heat.
- High-efficiency insulation materials
Insulating your sauna with fibreglass, cellulose, or mineral wool ensures it retains heat efficiently. Fibreglass batt insulation is a common choice due to its low cost and high thermal resistance (R-value), which measures the material’s ability to resist heat flow. - LED lighting and low-energy components
Switching from traditional lighting to LED lights can save a surprising amount of energy. LED lighting consumes less power and lasts significantly longer, making it an ideal choice for creating ambiance without increasing your electricity bill. Additionally, using smart thermostats to control sauna temperature can drastically reduce energy use.
Simple tips to reduce energy consumption
There are many small adjustments you can make to reduce your sauna’s energy footprint without compromising your experience!
Combining these usage practices with some technological upgrades if you feel they are needed, can significantly your lower energy consumption.
Pre-heating your sauna
Keep an eye on your pre-heating times to ensure you don’t waste energy.
Reduce the preheating time to 30-60 minutes for wood-burning saunas, 30-45 minutes for electric saunas, and 10-15 minutes for infrared saunas (these are quickest as they directly heat the body, rather than the air).
By doing so, you’ll reduce unnecessary energy usage.
Smart controls for heat management
Programmable thermostats and smart meters can monitor and manage your sauna’s energy use.
Smart thermostats ensure that your sauna heats only when needed and automatically shuts off when the desired temperature is reached.
Smart sauna purchases
The size of your sauna has a direct impact on energy consumption. Smaller saunas use less power, while larger saunas require more energy to heat up.
If you only need a sauna for one or two people, a smaller model will be more energy-efficient and economical to operate.
Energy-efficient sauna accessories you should consider
Accessories can definitely help to upgrade your sauna’s energy efficiency. By switching to energy-saving sauna stones, covers, or heaters, you can optimise your sauna’s performance without excessive energy use.
Heat retention with sauna stones
Sauna stones help store and radiate heat, reducing the workload on the heater. Heat-retaining stones can keep your sauna warm for longer periods, minimising the need for constant reheating.
This feature is particularly useful if you have a traditional saunas which relies on stored heat for temperature stability.
The best sauna stones for retaining heat are dense, non-porous igneous rocks such as granite, basalt, olivine, and peridotite.
These types of rocks can withstand high temperatures and rapid temperature changes without cracking. Their density allows them to absorb heat efficiently and release it slowly, providing consistent warmth over time.
- Granite: A very popular choice, granite is durable, resistant to cracking, and has excellent heat retention. It takes a little longer to heat up but once it’s hot, it holds the heat for an extended period.
- Basalt: Another great choice, basalt is also dense and retains heat well, making it a reliable option for saunas. It is particularly valued for its heat conductivity, meaning it heats up quickly and maintains steady temperatures.
When choosing sauna stones, avoid porous rocks (like pumice) as they can crack or even explode when exposed to heat and water. Stick with medium-sized, rough-textured stones for the best results in generating steam and maintaining heat.
Infrared vs. traditional heaters: which is greener?
While traditional sauna heaters provide a classic experience, infrared heaters consume less energy.
Infrared saunas directly heat the body, which allows them to operate at lower temperatures, thereby reducing overall electricity consumption, particularly if you have a smaller model.
Traditional saunas with wood-burning stoves obviously do not require electricity, making them a green choice if you have access to sustainably-sourced firewood.
Operating costs of home sauna
To calculate the operating costs of a home sauna, you’ll need to know the sauna’s power consumption (in kilowatts), usage time, and your electricity rate.
For a typical sauna with a power consumption of 7 kW, used for two hours per week, the annual electricity cost can be around €218.40 if the electricity price is €0.30 per kWh. If you use your sauna more frequently, such as daily, the costs can rise to over €700 annually (SaunaZeit).
For a 6 kW traditional sauna used 75 minutes per day, the cost can be about $27 per month, while an infrared sauna running 40 minutes per day may cost around $14.40 per month. The differences are primarily due to lower wattage and reduced preheating time for infrared models.
For more detailed calculations, we have a full guide to home sauna costs dedicated to going over this.
How to maintain an energy-efficient sauna over time
Maintaining your sauna ensures it remains energy-efficient throughout its lifespan.
Proper cleaning, ventilation, and energy monitoring tools are essential for keeping your sauna like it’s straight out of the box. You can grab our cleaning checklist here.
Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance, including cleaning heating elements and checking insulation, will keep your sauna functioning optimally.
Blockages in the heater or poor insulation can increase energy consumption unnecessarily. You can also re-seat and re-place your sauna stones once annually to ensure that heat is being evenly and efficiently dispersed in your sauna sesh.
We have a quick maintenance guide explaining all that – available here.
Monitoring sauna energy consumption
Installing a smart meter to monitor energy use in real time is a smart move for anyone looking to improve efficiency. These devices allow you to track and adjust sauna settings based on energy consumption patterns.
Overall, each adjustment, from smarter controls to better insulation, can significantly reduce energy usage without diminishing your enjoyment.
Wrapping up
Improving your sauna’s energy efficiency doesn’t just benefit the environment—it’s also a great way to lower your monthly energy bills. From choosing the right sauna design to simple little hacks, these strategies will help you strike a balance between relaxation and responsibility.
So, have you got any further questions about optimising your home sauna energy efficiency? If you’re looking for equipment or need tips on reducing energy usage, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Just reach out!
Now that you’re all over energy efficiency, we’ve also put together an absolute beast of a post covering absolutely everything else you’ll ever need to know before purchasing a sauna, right here.
