By: Mr. Umang Bansal, Chairman, Polo Elevators
Buildings shape more than the skylines of our cities—they influence how we live and work every day. As urban spaces expand and high-rise developments become more common, attention is increasingly shifting to how buildings operate and the environmental impact they create.
In India, for instance, buildings already account for 25 percent of total emissions, and therefore, the need for energy efficiency in building infrastructure is of utmost importance. While the debate on building sustainability often centres on solar power, insulation, and air-conditioning, the elevator often remains out of the spotlight.
Yet elevators are among the most frequently used systems in modern buildings. In office spaces, for example, they can account for 3-8 percent of total energy consumption. As buildings become taller, supporting more occupants, so does the demand for vertical transportation, as does the energy needed for such transportation.
But now, green elevators are making their presence felt, thanks to advanced technology, smart control, and environmentally friendly materials, which are helping elevators move beyond their traditional function as transportation machines to become part of the solution for healthier, more energy-efficient buildings.
Why Elevators Matter in Sustainable Building Design
Elevators run throughout the day, moving people, goods, and equipment across multiple floors. Every trip demands power for motors, doors and lighting, ventilation, and control panels.
Elevator systems in older buildings may not have been designed for energy efficiency. They operate at a constant speed regardless of passenger loads and continue to consume power even when not in use. Eventually, these systems contribute substantially to power consumption in a building.
As cities grow upwards, it has become increasingly important to improve the efficiency of elevators in buildings. Today, it has become clear to all concerned with building design and operation that elevators are not simply a luxury but have a direct effect on the environment.
Green elevators are designed to improve upon this by using advanced engineering techniques to improve energy management in buildings. The basic concept behind it is to avoid any form of energy wastage while at the same time ensuring movement within the building.
Regenerative Technology: Turning Motion into Energy
Among the most impactful innovations made on modern elevator systems is regenerative braking technology.
In a conventional elevator, energy generated during braking or moving downwards is normally lost as heat. This heat has to be dissipated by a cooling system, and this increases energy consumption as well as energy costs.
Regenerative systems take a different approach. If the elevator is moving downward with a heavy load or upward with a light load, the motor behaves as if it were a generator. Instead of letting the extra power go to waste, it can actually use it for other purposes.
The power can then be used for other operations such as lighting or ventilation. Regenerative drives can save up to 30 to 50 percent of the power that is normally consumed by traditional systems.
Another benefit is reduced heat in machine rooms, which helps lower cooling requirements and improves indoor conditions.
Smarter Motors and Intelligent Control Systems
In modern green elevators, motors that save energy are also utilized to enhance efficiency.
In contrast to older elevators that run at constant speeds, modern elevators utilize variable frequency drives (VFDs) to control the speed of the motors according to the load and the distance to be covered by the elevators to save the required energy.
Destination control systems further improve efficiency. Rather than passengers pressing buttons for floors inside the cabin, they will be required to enter their floors prior to boarding. The passengers will then be grouped according to their destinations in the same elevator.
This minimizes the number of movements, improves the flow of passengers, and reduces energy consumption. The systems can, in the long run, be able to recognize the usage of the building and make adjustments during peak and off-peak times.
Reducing Energy Waste through Smart Standby Features
The consumption of energy does not stop when an elevator is not in use. Lighting systems, display screens, and ventilation systems are active even when no one is in the cabin.
The green elevators have been able to reduce energy consumption when an elevator is in standby mode.
Modern systems include LED lighting, which can consume up to 80 percent less energy than conventional lighting and can have a far longer life. Motion sensors are used to turn off lights when the elevator is not in use, and the ventilation systems can be put on low power mode.
These small improvements may seem minor individually, but over hundreds of daily elevator cycles they result in meaningful energy savings without affecting passenger comfort.
Sustainable Materials and Cleaner Operation
Sustainability in terms of elevator systems is also applicable to the materials used in their construction.
Elevator manufacturers are using recycled materials in the interior of elevators. Low VOC paints and adhesives are used in elevator systems to minimize harmful emissions in a closed environment.
Another major change is the elimination of hydraulic elevators, which require large amounts of oil and can pose a threat to the environment if oil leakage occurs.
Today, traction elevators utilize electric motors instead of oil, making it a more efficient and environmentally safe solution by excluding the possibility of oil contamination, thus promoting a healthier indoor environment.
Conclusion
As cities continue to grow vertically, the systems that support modern buildings must evolve alongside them.
Elevators, once viewed simply as transportation within buildings, are now becoming an important part of sustainable building design. Technologies like regenerative drives, smart motors, intelligent controls, and eco-friendly materials are helping to reduce energy consumption and improve building performance.
In an era when buildings contribute to a large portion of India’s carbon footprint, advancements in day-to-day infrastructure have the potential to make a real difference to the environment. Green elevators are a fine example of how building performance can be improved for a greener environment.