Over 25 years and 56,000 hours of elevator work, we have been aware of
a few studies and products that promote energy conservation and savings
but little substantial data exist that addresses the low rise hydraulic
and traction elevators that compose 90% of the elevator world.
In our
opinion, most data that is available is sales driven with that goal at
the forefront, not true energy savings. I know I'll insult some engineer
somewhere with this but, by simply adhering to basic maintenance
principals we can realize real cost saving's: fancy "feel-good" add-on's
with green catch phrases only serve to feed a profit margin for the
seller and offer some fodder over lunch. Our reasoning; save $1K on service calls this year by enforcing items
already covered in the maintenance agreement and that $1K buys a lot of
those energy saving light bulbs.
A few things we know and while they may lack the shine & sexy of the "Green Movement", they have been proven to work:
Maintenance Program
An adhered to comprehensive
elevator program encompassing maintenance proficiency and methods.
Well-maintained equipment has far less problems that result in fewer
required responses from service personnel and all the energy consumed in
that response. As a service manager for several years I knew the true
cost in responding to service calls besides payroll and customer
dissatisfaction.
Every time the technician's vehicle runs to another
needless call due to poor maintenance energy is wasted in fluids,
vehicle waste, carbons and environmental costs. Poorly maintained
equipment results in advanced wear on components, components that have
to be replaced. What's the true cost of manufacturing a replacement
motor and that carbon footprint? Parts are materials and labor, lights
in a factory, delivery vehicles on the road.
That may seem like
stretching the point but it is a very real every day energy cost that is
nonreturnable. Now consider replacing all of your major elevator
equipment a few years early due to poor maintenance?
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Re: Energy Conservation and Elevators
