Elevator Energy Use January 08, 2010 Did you know that you use
more energy going down an elevator than going up it? Elevators
are one of the many technologies that had to be developed before
buildings could get taller than a few stories, but until now,
there was no information available on how much electricity you
use by taking a ride in one. The short answer is that some new
elevators use more than 30 times as much electricity as other
new elevators, but the best ones use less than the lighting
energy used for taking the stairs (assuming that the stairways
are equipped with motion sensor lighting, as they should be). A
good elevator uses so little electricity to move the cab that it
may use more to operate the fan and lights—something the
industry should be proud of. The best elevators are so good that
in most climates, most of the energy use associated with an
elevator is used to heat and cool the air that leaks through the
shaft. Fortunately, there are ways to significantly decrease the
energy used by most