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Sustainable Green Building: Banya, Sauna, Sweat Lodge

Going Green - No Sweat!

We’ve had many experiences in Sweat Lodges and when I lived in Alaska I had the pleasure of using a Banya. For both Health and Spiritual these spaces are great and can be inexpensive to build and operate. From Simple Lodges such as Traditional Sweat Lodges and Banya’s to more elaborate Sauna designs the Banya or Sweat Lodge is a great way to relax, and improve your Health, and Spiritual well being.

We sometimes use our Banya as a wake up space and enjoy the warmth. In the summers our Banya is one of the cooler places on our property. Our dogs love it and often hang out inside on hot days.

The Stained Glass door on the front was made by Susan’s Father and Susan made the Kokopelli (Recycled Steel Cut out with Glass) Other glass recycled from glass projects and bottles from friends.

The Banya I must admit is an easier way of getting to the point of sweating. Traditional Sweats can involve an elaborate ceremony taking some time to heat and move the rocks and as I discovered the banya’s in Alaska the Fire Tender would freeze. A Banya takes only a short time to heat up and is able to heat the space longer and hotter. The health benefits are obvious. I guess that’s why we built one. Other benefits. It’s outside and coming out of the Banya into the cool night air is always pleasing. Can’t wait for the snow!

We used Cotton Wood Logs as they are the logs most available. Placed in sand 2′ deep and mudded in place. At first we were going to use many logs to cover the roof, but thanks to Bob Villa and “This Old House” and seeing a show which used (recycled) bamboo fencing as a cover and then they muded the bamboo directly.

This method allowed us to be more creative with the flow of the roof and actually channel the run off from rains just where we wanted it to go. (Away from the door.)

Saving on the logs for the roof actually gave us enough materials to build a fence. More on that in our “Going Green” in the Garden coming soon.

Cheers L&S

Cost less than 200.00 ( not including stove )
Materials:
Cottonwood Logs
Bamboo Fencing
Adobe Mud From our Property
We used a Synthetic Stucco on the exterior.
Labor and time to build. Two neighbor kids, and two friends 10 days.
Dimensions: Height 4′ Diameter 10′ Inside is sunken 3′ and allows easy sitting for 4 can accommodate 8 in a crunch. Go Build something GREEN. Recycle, Reuse, and be healthy. L&S
New Mexico

I figure for $200.00 plus all the exercise we got hauling wood and playing in the mud we got a deal.
TRADITIONAL SAUNAS BY PRICE: $2000.00 and UP!
http://saunas.com/
$0.00 to $2000.00
$2000.00 to $3000.00
$3000.00 to $4000.00
$4000.00 and up

Links: What is a Banya, Sweat Lodge. Wikipedia helps out. ( Thanks )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banya_(sauna)
Banya (Russian: баня) is a traditional Russian steam bath. The banya is not as hot as the Finnish sauna, but what it lacks in temperature is compensated by pouring more water over the stones of the stove, creating steam and higher humidity. Studies have shown that the high-heat and method of producing steam in a Russian banya vaporises the water to smaller particles, implying a more effective vaporisation, which is meant to impart a more pervasive heating than can be achieved with other saunas, and feels dryer than Finnish saunas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweat_lodge
The sweat lodge is a ceremonial sauna and an important ritual used by North American First Nations or Native American peoples. There are several styles of sweat lodges that include a domed or oblong hut similar to a wickiup, a teepee, or even a simple hole dug into the ground and covered with planks or tree trunks. Stones are heated in an exterior fire and then placed in a central pit in the ground. Often the stones are granite and they glow red in the dark lodge.

What else are we doing in our GREEN LIVES?

We got lot’s to share on going GREEN. Some of our future posts will include.
- WHY WOOD YOU? Building technologies are changing and dramatically so. “ICF” Insulated Concrete Forms. By Nudura. Distributed in New Mexico by Verde Design Group. LLC.

For two years we searched for a building material for our home. Traditional Stick Built, Concrete Block, Adobe, Straw Bail, Post and Beam. Our plans were modest a 16′ by 24′ foot print. Estimates ranged from $28K to $43K just for materials and Custom Built from $53K to $130K. What were we getting for our money in most of these building systems. Not what we wanted.
Come back…. For more Sustainable Ideas.

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