Lifts and escalators

[bekdik]

In another thread, the pros and cons of switching a geyser off have been beaten to death and the conclusion is that the total amount of energy used is pretty much the same whether the geyser is intermittently switched off or whether it is left on. All that happens is that the time at which energy is consumed is moved.

Now, lifts and escalators both have large electric motors which consume more energy than your geyser.

A building with more than one lift and or more than one escalator would consume a significant amount of electricity. so, if half of the devices in a building were switched off, a large amount of electricity would be saved.

I believe that the result of switching half off would be a significant change on the usage pattern of the commuters. Those who are able bodied will start using stairs, especially where the distance traveled is only a couple of floors. Further, the occupancy rate will be significantly increased, thus giving a higher kilogram/watt of usage. Also, due to the significant increase in wait times, people will start staggering their travel times, thus spreading the load in this way too.

Interestingly enough, I have not seen anything along these lines suggested.

[ToxicBunny]

bekdik : unfortunately that requires some logic to be used... and most people in the planning setups don't really use logic.

I do like the idea tbh, switching off escalators in shopping centres at the very least would make a huge difference, and it would have a small health benefit to, of making ppl actually walk places.

[elysian]

Good idea. The building I work in has 4 lifts right next to eachother and there are only 4 floors (including the basement, which is seldom used and serviced by another 2 lifts elsewhere).

One problem is that there are no stairs at the lifts, and only emergency exits, with stairs, at the other end of the building (which we aren't allowed to use anyway). So we have to take lifts and can't use stairs - really dumb!

And the aircon is also on full all the time, where we actually freeze during the day. Switching the aircon off and opening windows will save a lot too. Oh yes, we are not allowed to open windows and get fresh air either. :mad:

[Moederloos]

I usually prefer stairs to lifts - however, the stairways are either locked, dirty, packed with junk, hidden, unlit......

[bekdik]

I usually prefer stairs to lifts - however, the stairways are either locked, dirty, packed with junk, hidden, unlit......

If they HAD to be used, this would no doubt be fixed. As would the non-working emergency lighting!

[Moederloos]

If they HAD to be used, this would no doubt be fixed. As would the non-working emergency lighting!

Oh - I agree.
I would prefer the stairs.
They do not need maintenance and are not affected by load shedding.
Anything that needs to be maintained in ZA needs to be avoided.

[BiteMe]

lifts dont use much electricity, at least not even half as much as you think. but escalators do.

[CathJ]

And the aircon is also on full all the time, where we actually freeze during the day. Switching the aircon off and opening windows will save a lot too. Oh yes, we are not allowed to open windows and get fresh air either. :mad:

Switching off the aircon and opening windows would work. Leaving the aircon on, and opening windows, doesn't work - the aircon is then just fighting the temperature of the air coming in from outside. Essentially you're trying to cool/heat the outside with your little office aircon.

[bekdik]

lifts dont use much electricity, at least not even half as much as you think. but escalators do.

What (approx) size motors do they have?

[Aphrael]

btw, you're also forgetting about human nature. I'm in a wheelchair. Unfortunately, I have to use the lift. It's amazinig how people will not walk the extra 20m to take the stairs that are right next to the lift to go from the basement to ground floor. Don't let me start on this subject ... after 2 years, I finally started chirping about whether people had disabilities that could not be seen ... Amazing how few people use the lift now :D ... well, fewer than before :rolleyes:

[The_Librarian]

@ Aph - good for you, to stand up and let yourself be heard :)

But, yes, it's human nature to be lazy :D and use the escalator/lift instead of stairs.

[The Cosmos]

In another thread, the pros and cons of switching a geyser off have been beaten to death and the conclusion is that the total amount of energy used is pretty much the same whether the geyser is intermittently switched off or whether it is left on. All that happens is that the time at which energy is consumed is moved.

Now, lifts and escalators both have large electric motors which consume more energy than your geyser.

A building with more than one lift and or more than one escalator would consume a significant amount of electricity. so, if half of the devices in a building were switched off, a large amount of electricity would be saved.

I believe that the result of switching half off would be a significant change on the usage pattern of the commuters. Those who are able bodied will start using stairs, especially where the distance traveled is only a couple of floors. Further, the occupancy rate will be significantly increased, thus giving a higher kilogram/watt of usage. Also, due to the significant increase in wait times, people will start staggering their travel times, thus spreading the load in this way too.

Interestingly enough, I have not seen anything along these lines suggested.

i don't actually like taking a lift, and more often than not will rather take the stairs. It's safer :D