Energy effi cient elevators and escalators

Elevators and escalators are the crucial element that makes it practical to live and work several fl oors above ground – more than 4,3 million units are installed in Europe. Due to ageing of the European population the installation of elevators in single family houses is experiencing a signifi cant growth, as well as equipping existing buildings. Elevators use about 4% of the electricity in tertiary sector buildings. High untapped saving potentials exist with respect to energy-effi cient technologies, investment decisions and behavioural approaches, in these sectors. Th is paper presents preliminary results from the IEE project E4, whose overall objective is the improvement of the energy performance of elevators and escalators, in tertiary sector buildings and in multi family residential buildings. Th e project is characterizing people conveyors electricity consumption in the tertiary sector and in residential buildings in the EU. Th e installed park is characterised by a survey among elevators national associations in each country. An assessment of the barriers has been made in the fi rst phase of the project and will be presented. Monitoring campaigns in elevators and escalators are being conducted in each country according to a common developed methodology. More than fi ft y elevators and escalators will be audited. Th is will allow the collection of load curves (start up, travel up and down, travel full and empty), including the characterization of standby consumption. Standby consumption of an elevator can represent up to 80% of the total energy consumed per year, and can be drastically reduced. Th is paper presents the preliminary results of the fi rst ten audits performed in Portugal by ISR-UC.