Can Energy Efficient Lifts Reduce Operating Costs?

For many commercial and industrial buildings, lifts are a vital part of the infrastructure. They provide an essential service for employees, customers and visitors, and are often in constant use.

As a result of this, elevators can often be one of the biggest energy users in a building – particularly if they are outdated or not operating efficiently.

In this handy guide, we’ll take a look at what can impact the energy-efficiency of your lift system, as well as how energy-efficient lifts can reduce energy consumption and operating costs and some of the different ways you can achieve this in your building.

Can Energy Efficient Lifts Reduce Operating Costs?

Yes, energy-efficient lifts can significantly reduce operating costs for commercial and industrial buildings by minimising the energy consumed and environmental impact. Lifts are crucial to building infrastructure, especially in multi-story facilities where they are often running continuously. This continuous use means that lifts can be a significant contributor to a building’s energy consumption. By investing in energy-efficient lift technology or lift modernisation, businesses can reduce both their operating costs and carbon footprint.

Energy-efficient lifts are designed to require less power and operate more smoothly, which helps decrease overall energy use. They incorporate technologies such as regenerative braking, which captures and reuses energy that would otherwise be lost during each start and stop cycle, as well as efficient motor designs that demand less electricity. These features not only lower the building’s energy requirements but also contribute to sustainability goals by reducing the environmental impact.

Find Out More: How To Reduce Energy Consumption in Commercial Buildings

What Impacts the Energy Efficiency of Lifts?

There are a number of factors that can influence the energy efficiency of your lift system. These include:

• The size of the lift – Larger lifts tend to use more energy than smaller ones.
• The type of lift – Different types of lifts use different amounts of energy. For example, hydraulic lifts are generally more energy-intensive than traction or gearless lifts.
• The number of stops – More stops means more starts and stops for the lift, which can impact energy consumption.
• The type of traffic – If the lift is used more frequently, it will use more energy. Similarly if it is a large passenger lift carrying heavier loads, this will also likely use more energy.
• The age of your lift – Older lifts tend to be less energy-efficient, whereas modernised lifts with energy-saving features and efficient technology can make a big difference.

Depending on the specific factors that apply to your lift system, the energy consumption and operating costs can vary considerably. However, there are some ways you can reduce these costs, no matter what type of lift you have, which we’ll take a look at a little later in the guide.

How Can Energy Saving Lifts Reduce Operating Costs?

With reports stating that elevators account for between 2% and 5% of the energy consumption of a building, it’s easy to see how reducing this could have a positive impact on your overall building expenses.

There are a few ways that energy efficient lifts can help to reduce your energy consumption and, moreover, your operating costs. By investing in an energy-efficient system, and ensuring you do your part to maintain your lift system, you can save energy and money in the long run. In fact, in the ACEEE report mentioned above, some lift technologies have been found to reduce energy consumption by as much as 75%. 

Some of the ways energy efficient lifts can help to reduce your energy consumption include:

• Regenerative energy – Regenerative braking drives recapture the energy that is normally wasted when a lift starts and stops, and uses it to provide power back to the system. 
• Reduced motor energy use – The use of more energy-efficient motors requires less electricity and generates less heat, which can improve the overall efficiency of your lift system.
• Reduced lighting energy use – LEDs use much less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, and can help to reduce your energy consumption.
• Reducing idling time – If your lifts are left running when they are not in use, this can significantly impact your energy performance. By reducing the idling time of your lifts, you can make a big difference to your overall energy usage.

Investing in energy-efficient elevators is a great way to boost energy savings and minimise your overall operating costs. However, it is also important to remember some other key factors when maintaining the energy-efficiency of your lifts in order to save as much energy as possible.

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How To Make Your Lift System More Energy Efficient

Regardless of the type of lift you have, there are a number of ways to make your lift system more energy efficient, which can help to reduce energy consumption and operating costs. These include:

1. Upgrade to a more energy-efficient lift

Though there are ways to minimise your energy usage with any elevator, the simplest way to do this is to install a brand new lift system. If your lift is outdated or not operating efficiently, upgrading to a newer, more energy-efficient model can make a big difference.

Look for features such as regenerative drives, which can help to recapture energy and reduce overall power consumption for the lift.

You might also want to consider gearless traction lifts, which use a permanent magnet motor that requires less electricity than other types of motors.

Additionally, think about the specific needs of your building and choose a lift that is sized appropriately. A smaller lift that doesn’t have to work as hard will be more energy-efficient than a larger one that is constantly under strain.

2. Improve the insulation of your lift shaft

If your lift shaft is not well insulated, this can impact the energy efficiency of your lift system. Heat loss through the shaft walls can cause the lift to use more energy as it has to work harder to maintain the correct temperature.

To improve the insulation of your lift shaft, you can add things like draft excluders around the doors and install thicker walls or insulated cladding.

This will help to reduce heat loss and make your lift system more energy efficient.

3. Regular lift maintenance

Ensuring that your lift is regularly serviced and well-maintained can help to keep it running smoothly and efficiently. This can also help to identify any potential issues early on, before they have a chance to cause bigger problems or impact the energy-efficiency of your lift.

Some of the things you should look out for during regular maintenance include:

• Checking that the doors are sealing properly – if there are gaps or leaks, this can impact the energy efficiency of your lift
• Inspecting the condition of the door motors – if these are worn out or not operating efficiently, they can use more energy
• Checking the oil levels in the gearbox – if the oil is low, this can increase friction and impact the efficiency of your lifts.

By ensuring your lift is regularly serviced and well-maintained, you can help to keep it running smoothly and efficiently, which can in turn reduce your energy costs, consumption and overall operating costs.

4. Invest in Lift Modernisation Services

If you have an older lift system that is no longer operating as efficiently as it once did, investing in lift modernisation services can be a great way to improve its performance.

This can involve anything from replacing old parts and components with more energy-efficient ones, to installing new technologies such as regenerative drives.

Lift modernisation can be a big investment, but it can also have a significant impact on the energy-efficiency of your lift system.

If you are considering this option, be sure to work with a reputable and experienced lift modernisation company to ensure that the work is carried out properly and your lift is brought up to current standards.

Looking For Expert Lift Modernisation, Installation or Maintenance Services?

If you are looking for expert lift modernisation, installation or maintenance services, the team at Future Lift Services can help.

Our expert lift engineers have years of experience in the industry, and we offer a comprehensive range of lift services to meet your specific needs.

From lift modernisation and installation to servicing and maintenance, we can help you to keep your lifts running smoothly and efficiently – and help you save as much money as possible on your energy costs.

To find out more about our services or to get a free, no-obligation quote, contact us today.

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