Effectively heating a room to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit isn’t as simple as turning up the dial on your thermostat.
Just ask any experienced Hot Yoga Studio operator about attempting to run a hot air system and you’ll hear about endless complaints from their clients as well as high operating and maintenance costs.
Here are just a few of our success stories delivering effective radiant heating to the world of hot yoga:
Steamtown Yoga – Scranton PA
Original location: Space for 50 people with a hot air system, humidity control air temperature 105 F
Complaints:
- Contact lens wearers complained of dry eyes
- Air pressure was heavy and hard to breathe
- Air and humidity was very hard to control
Some clients wear a cardiac and caloric monitor. Average calories burned 600 per session.
Room temperature was set at 102 F, with an air temperature of approximately 10 F lower. It was just too hot at 105 F room temperature! Air handling, humidity control and heating are finely tuned.
Membership transferred locations and membership has increased significantly and is expected to climb again once the university students are back as they are now within a comfortable walking distance.
Improvements:
- Contact wearers are loving the space. Their eyes are no longer dry.
- Everyone reporting having a much easier time breathing and feel like they are getting a better workout.
- Some clients wear a cardiac and caloric monitor. Average calories burned 800 per session and they have also noted an increase in their pulse during class.
Moksha Hot Yoga Studio (The Healing Sanctuary) Los Angeles, CA
Challenges: 25′ ceiling with large skylights, brick walls, Design Temp 95°F. In CA, electric heat cannot be primary heat (building code rule), so a gas furnace was installed, with added humidity and air exchanger. After installation, insulation levels were lowered with a resulting increase in heatloss.
Results: Heatloss estimates were calculated on April 5, panels were ordered May 18 and shipped July 21 as per owner’s time line.. Several e-mail and calls were made with the architect, mechanical engineer, electrician and studio owner to confirm the insulation issues and then resolve them as well as how to best blend the various furnace, controls and radiant systems. After some commissioning tweaks, the studio is working as designed and they have ordered again for the expansion of this studio. Product cost only $3.53 per square foot.
Heat Yoga – Maple Grove, MN, USA
Challenges: Power limitations. Could not have air and heat on at same time or the facility would be charged large overages (demand charges) from their power utility. For two rooms. Design temp 105°F .
Results: Heatloss with several revisions were done. Panels were ordered Feb 2, shipped Feb 15. The use of the SmartRooms Distribution Panel (SRDP-2) wired to the killswitch allowed for a low voltage signal to be sent to shut the heat relays off when the air was turned on and allow them to turn back on when the air was turned off. The studio is working as designed and the product cost was $8.46 per square foot.
Moksha Yoga East Vancouver, BC, Canada
Challenges: Single pane windows, over an unheated parking garage. Inside design temperature of 100F.
Results: Heatloss estimate was performed on Oct 3 with several insulation options presented to help them make a decision on where best to spend their money. The heatloss was revised Nov 14 once decisions were made, panels were ordered Nov 22 and shipped Nov 29. An on site visit by plant personnel confirms the studio is working as designed and the client is happy with it’s operation and support they received. Product cost was only $6.60 per square foot.
Moksha Yoga – New York, NY
Challenges: This studio is in a very old building that had restricted power, single pane windows, low insulation levels and water baseboard heaters that by law have to provide 70F during the heating season. As much of their electrical as possible had to be converted over to gas to free up breakers for the heating panels. They were not able to upgrade their power entry as it was prohibitively expensive and would have to be done from the road to their electrical room.
Results: A custom heatloss calculation was done June 6 allowing for the baseboard to heat to 70°F and the radiant heaters take the room to 100°F. Construction complications required a revised estimate in October, the heaters were ordered the same day and shipped in early November and installed. The baseboards add an unnecessary complexity to this situation as we couldn’t guarantee the proper amount of heat nor the uniformity of the heat because there is no control on the baseboard heaters and they were not able to install enough radiant heat as primary heat due to the building restrictions. It was also recommended that they upgrade the windows once budget allowed to reduce the heat loss thereby lowering their operating costs. Design temp 100°F. The studio is working to the owner’s satisfaction. Product cost only $5.34 per square foot.
Bikram Yoga Victoria – Victoria, BC, Canada
Challenges: The studio opening date was was not going to be met due to the lack of a timely response from an alternate radiant heating company. The owner approached us, we re-designed the heat loss taking into consideration the studio is over an unheated parking garage. Inside design temperature of 105°F.
Results: Custom heatloss calculation done Apr 3, revised for R values Apr 11, ordered April 16 and shipped May 10. They also ordered a custom 25′ conduit on each heater to replace the junction box. Using our low voltage system they were able to install quickly and save money on contactors and electrician fees. Studio was able to open on time and on budget, with a product cost of only $5.85 per square foot.
Bikram Yoga Brikell Miami, FL
Challenges: The owner called to solve the heating issue with his 3 month old studio. He had installed a standard HVAC system that could not get the space up to the desired temperature even in this temperate climate. Inside design temperature is 105°F. The space had a low R value rating.
Results: A custom heatloss calculation was done June 7, decisions made on options and the heaters ordered July 6 and shipped July 21 and installed. Product only $5 per square foot and a happy customer who is actively promoting our product.
