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What Is Electric Cremation?
Electric cremation, sometimes called electric incineration, is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cremation methods. It is an increasingly popular option in regions such as England, Germany, and the Netherlands. […]
Electric cremation, sometimes called electric incineration, is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cremation methods. It is an increasingly popular option in regions such as England, Germany, and the Netherlands. Although it is gaining interest in the United States, the technology is not yet comparable to what is available abroad at this time. It relies solely on the use of electricity for heat generation instead of gas and doesn’t need open flames to achieve the necessary temperatures for cremation. Compared to traditional cremation, electric cremation doesn’t contribute to air pollution since it doesn’t create emissions or produce greenhouse gases.
The process of electric cremation is similar to traditional cremation in some respects. An electric cremation usually takes around three to four hours, which is comparable to the length of time for a traditional cremation. Additionally, electric cremation still includes the use of a high-powered furnace and a retort. The body of the person who died is placed in the furnace after it has reached an appropriate temperature and then the chamber is closed. During the cremation process, any gases or other substances that are created are filtered through a water treatment process prior to being vented. The water used for the treatment process is also filtered by redirecting it to an effluent treatment plant.
There are a few other aspects of electric cremation that are environmentally sound in comparison to traditional cremation. Electric cremators can be powered using basic electrical connections such as a three-phase electric outlet. As a low-energy option, they typically only use around 300 kWh of electricity (about one-third of the kWh used by an average household in one month). Many electric cremator models have reporting functionality to further optimize energy usage based on pressure, oxygen, and temperature levels. The reporting functionality can be useful in jurisdictions where crematories are required to report to state environmental protection agencies.
Sources
“Greening the Burial of the Dead, in Brooklyn”. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-local-correspondents/greening-the-burial-of-the-dead-in-brooklyn
“How Electric Cremation Compares to Other Cremation Services”. https://www.cremation.green/how-electric-cremation-compares-to-other-cremation-services/
