Elevators Going Green
Traditional elevators can use a substantial amount of energy, even when they’re not in use. This could be as much as 8% of the whole energy consumption of the building. Therefore any ways in which the energy usage can be reduced will be beneficial to the overall efficiency of the building and to the running costs.
Modern elevators are designed to be far more energy-efficient than previous models. They have a number of features that can not only reduce the amount of energy they use, but also supply electricity back into the main system. These can be retrofitted into existing buildings — even older properties such as warehouses.
Switching Off
Eco-friendly elevators can have sensors fitted within the cabs. These use software that will automatically turn off non-essential systems when the elevator is not in use. This includes areas such as the lights, music, video screens and ventilation. When the elevator is required, these will all automatically turn on again.
More User-Friendly
Elevators are an important part of modern daily life. People rely on them every day for getting between floors in office buildings or accessing different levels in car parks. Any aspect of the elevator that makes it more efficient for the user is beneficial, especially if it also results in lowering energy consumption. The software used in modern lifts is more effective at sensing where it needs to be and judging which floors it should stop at first. This means that the elevator has to stop less and it reduces the waiting time for users. With the elevators running more efficiently, it could result in less energy being needed. This would lower the overall energy usage and minimise maintenance and installation costs.
Twin-Deck Elevators
Another new innovation in the elevator industry is the introduction of double-decker cabs, where one is positioned on top of the other. In this situation, one of the cabs will stop at the odd floors and the other is used for the even levels. These types of elevators require less energy, as the number of stops required is reduced. It can also mean that fewer elevators are needed within the building.
Regenerative Drives
In traditional elevators the machinery simply expels heat and uses up energy. Modern elevators can be fitted with regenerative drives which also recycle the energy and put something back into the system. The lift uses power in order to lift the cab. Then when it’s going back down, the motor generates energy which is put back into the main electricity supply. In some instances, when the lift is light going up and heavy coming down, it could actually use less energy than it generates.
No Engine Room
Lifts that don’t require an engine room are more energy-efficient and take up less space. In these systems, the engine is positioned above the cab, so there is no requirement for an extra room to house it or a connection to supply electricity to it.
In coming years, we will continue to see further improvements in the energy usage of elevators. This will cover a whole range of areas, including lighting, controls, doors and fans.
