Eco-Technology
Elevators in modern buildings are safer and more reliable than their counterparts a decade ago. However, recent technological advancements in efficiency have materially outstripped the pace of elevator installations, with macro changes occurring in the design and performance of key parts.
The amount of energy an elevator uses may be significant in the context of an organisation's overall use (up to 15% in a standard office building), and yet elevator energy consumption is currently unregulated or ungraded, unlike cars, electrical items and even buildings.
To meet the growing demand for sustainability, we can upgrade or replace systems with more efficient solutions – lowering both energy use and running costs over the long term.
Examples of energy-saving systems
Regenerative drives
Under normal circumstances, the excess energy from an elevator in its motion (amount depending upon direction and load) is usually dissipated as heat. By contrast, a regenerative motor will recover potential energy stored from an elevator's use and feed it back to the unit as electricity.
By using regenerative technology, the elevator utilises this wasted energy and transfers it back into the building’s electrical system for use in other areas or to further power the lift at later intervals.
Battery assisted
The elevator runs directly off a single phase supply, the batteries are charged individually and are fully active in the event of a power-outage. This guarantees a sufficient supply allowing the lift to travel at least 80 trips under minimum load.
The gearless motor has been designed to use only 3.0kW from the mains supply – equivalent to a small residential electrical component.
Complementary technology
As with almost all electrical equipment, elevators use power even when not in operational use. When an elevator is on stand-by, it is estimated that up to 20% of the maximum power outage is still being used or otherwise active due to internal lighting, landing/car indicators, fans and non-essential items within the control panel such as the drive and relevant aspects of the processor.
An elevator can be programmed to hibernate after a determined amount of time – thus reducing energy wastage. Coupled with complementary technology such as LED lighting and regenerative systems, we can achieve up to a 70% reduction in power consumption (8.5% of a building's annual energy consumption). These systems are most suitable for low to medium rise installations.
Key benefits:
- Lower running costs
- Increased efficiency
- Reduced energy consumption/carbon footprint
- A sustainable alternative
- Compliance with relevant EU requirements and British Safety Standards
Please contact us to discuss your eco-technology requirements.
