Building Management Hawaii April/May - (Page 10)

Lifts Ready To Switch Gears? Make the smart move toward lower elevator energy costs. By Nathan Lee I t certainly isn’t news to building owners in Hawaii that electricity costs are the highest in the country. But what you may not know is how you can save energy and operational costs with your elevators. Oftentimes modernizing your elevators and escalator can make the single largest impact on reducing energy consumption. Depending on your building’s needs, this can mean anything from something as big as changing gears to something as simple as changing your oil—literally. Geared to Gearless Modernizations If you’re ready for a big change, a geared to gearless modernization is the way to go. It reduces power consumption by eliminating the use of a motor generator. Elevator companies can help you customize a modernization plan that works best for your building. To minimize disruption to your tenants or customers, existing geared machines, controllers and motor generators can be removed one elevator at a time. The old equipment is replaced with micro-processor controls with advanced dispatching, an efficient AC drive system and compact gearless machines. In 2011, the Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach Hotel underwent an elevator modernization by ThyssenKrupp Elevator and now the 30-year-old elevators look, ride and perform like new. Additionally, the operating costs were reduced since the elevators now use 56 percent less electricity. Regenerative Drives Traditionally, the electricity generated by an elevator’s braking system was sent through a series of resistors that dissipated the energy as heat into the machine room. With the introduction of regenerative drive technology, the energy produced by the brakes can be fed back into the building’s power grid (and help keep the lights on). Since the regenerative drive captures excess energy and reuses it, rather than releasing it as heat, it also reduces costly traditional cooling of the elevator machine room. Destination based control software takes into account each person’s desired stop and dispatches the car that will provide the fastest trip time, reducing user wait time up to 30 percent and creating up to 35 percent more efficient passenger transportation. 10 April - May 2013 BMH www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com http://www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Management Hawaii April/May

Lifts: Elevators & Escalators
Service Providers Leverage Cutting-Edge Technology
Time To Modernize?
Ready To Switch Gears?
Concrete: Restoration & Repairs
When To Test For Lead
3 Steps For A Solid Spalling Job
Deep Secrets
Phase The Work
Concrete Restoration
Tips On How To Reduce Spalling On Newer Buildings
The Difference Between Repair & Restoration
Insurance
Equipment Breakdown Insurance
High-rise Hotspot
EDITORIAL
Toolbox Talk: How to choose the correct ladder for the job.
Industry News and Movers & Shakers
On Site: Saving Staff

Building Management Hawaii April/May