Electricity Consumption in a 200 m² Log Cabin in Sweden
When people imagine a mountain log cabin retreat, they often picture peaceful mornings, cozy interiors and panoramic views of snow-covered slopes. But behind that serene vision, there’s also a practical question many of our clients ask: How energy efficient is a log cabin—especially in the Scandinavian climate? At KM Building, we take pride in not only creating beautiful cabins, but in building homes that are engineered for long-term performance, comfort and sustainability. To demonstrate this, let’s look at the real-life electricity consumption of a 200 m² custom-built log cabin in Sweden.
Real Data from a Real Cabin
One of our clients moved into his log cabin in January 2023. The cabin has 200 m² of heated living space and is used primarily as a holiday home—roughly 12 weeks per year or about 3 months total. Despite the occasional use, the home is fully functional year-round and includes:
- A ground-source heat pump for heating.
- Heated floors throughout the entire home.
- A sauna used regularly for relaxation.
- Electric car charging (average 70 kWh per one full charge).
In the full calendar year of 2024, this cabin used 12,650 kWh of electricity in total. That breaks down to an average of 1,054 kWh per month, including car charging, floor heating, everyday electricity use and sauna time.
Ground Heat Pumps + Wood Construction = A Smart Combo
This cabin combines the best of both worlds: a renewable, low-energy heat source with the natural thermal performance of solid wood. Ground-source heat pumps are known for their efficiency, especially in colder climates like Sweden’s. When installed in a well-insulated log cabin, they work even more efficiently, using far less energy to maintain warmth
