E4 Energy efficient elevators and escalators

Public Buildings Procurement Guidelines for Lifts and Escalators

Walter Cariani; Laura Manduzio

With the support of

Roma, 06 April 2010

This document was prepared as a part of the E4 Project - Grant agreement no. EIE/07/111/SI2.466703 with the support of the European Commission. The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

Table of Contents
Table of Content...........................................................................................................3 1. Introduction..................................................................................................4 2. Products Description...................................................................................6 3. Key Environmental Impacts............................................................................7 4. GPP Criteria for Lifts...................................................................................8

4.1. Subject matter: Purchase/selection of energy efficient Lift.................8 4.2. Core GPP Criteria for Lifts...................................................................8
5. GPP Criteria for Escalators...................................................................16

5.1. Subject matter: Purchase of energy efficient Escalators..............................16 5.2. Core GPP Criteria for Escalators.......................................................16
6. References ..............................................................................................18

1. Introduction
Buildings are major consumers of energy, responsible for 40% of final energy consumption in the European Community alone. EC research has indicated that by improving energy efficiency, carbon emissions from buildings and related energy costs could be reduced by 42%. Given the significance of public procurement in Europe and that approximately 40% of the procurement budgets of local authorities are spent on buildings, promoting energy efficiency of public buildings has an important role to play in contributing to this potential. Every product or service bought has environmental impacts throughout its lifecycle, from the extraction of raw materials, the manufacturing of the product, through to its use and disposal. Taking smart procurement decisions can help to drastically reduce these, with benefits felt locally and globally. Green public procurement means that public authorities take into consideration environmental factors in the process of purchasing products, services or work. In the specific case of lifts and escalators, the major environmental impact is related to their electricity consumption; therefore the most direct way to reduce the environmental impact is to reduce the electricity consumption by the purchase/selection of more energy efficient products and through measures aimed at consumer behaviour. The aim of these guidelines is to stimulate and help public authorities and the private sector to adopt a voluntary approach to incorporate energy efficiency criteria in their tendering process of lifts and escalators. As stated by 2006/32/EC Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services: Member States shall ensure that energy efficiency improvement measures are taken by the public sector, focussing on cost-effective measures which generate the largest energy savings in the shortest span of time. The public sector, to fulfil an exemplary role in the context of this Directive, should apply some requirements like the followings: (a) to use financial instruments for energy savings, including energy performance contracting, that stipulate the delivery of measurable and predetermined energy savings; (b) to purchase equipment based on lists of energy-efficient product specifications of different categories of equipment and vehicles using, where applicable, minimised life cycle cost analysis or comparable methods to ensure cost/effectiveness;

(c) to purchase equipment that has efficient energy consumption in all modes, including in standby mode, using, where applicable, minimised life cycle cost analysis or comparable methods to ensure cost/effectiveness; (d) to replace or retrofit existing equipment with the equipment listed in points (b) and (c); (e) to use energy audits and implement the resulting cost-effective recommendations; (f) to purchase or rent energy-efficient buildings or parts thereof or requirements to replace or retrofit purchased or rented buildings or parts thereof in order to render them more energy-efficient. Three key issues should be addressed to implement a GPP strategy: a) the regulatory framework governing public procurement, both at European and national and norms that may facilitate the integration of ecological criteria; b) the organizational and cultural aspects in the public administration and their decision-making processes within which a GPP strategy must be implemented; c) ecological criteria that define the products and services with reduced environmental impact. With regard to ecological criteria, the difficulty lies in identifying requirements sufficiently effective in ensuring better environmental performance of product/ service purchased and at the same time adequate participation by companies on the market. A number of guidelines and toolkits have been results of several European projects, having promoting the Green Public Procurement across the produced guidelines enlarged their appliance and their description became simpler. developed in the last years as the scope of explaining and Europe. From the earlier issues to additional groups of products

These guidelines, related to lifts and escalators, are based on the EC GPP Training Toolkit Module 3: Practical module (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/toolkit_en.htm) specifically designed for purchasing officers. They do not include the full description of the process of preparing the tender documents, a process that is well known to all those who regularly prepare calls for tender. Rather they are intended to provide criteria and technical specifications on energy efficiency that could be usefully included in public calls for tender. The criteria are 5

suitable for use by any contracting authority across the Member States. They are designed to be used with minimum additional verification effort or cost increases. For the purposes of ease of understanding, in this report GPP Criteria (selection criteria and technical specifications) has been divided into two categories: GPP Criteria for Lifts GPP Criteria for Elevators The description of the procedure is set out in accordance with EU Directive on Public Procurement, Directive 2004/18/EC.

2. Products Description
Lifts and escalators are passenger transportation systems that increase the ease of crossing vertical distances between different floors of a building. Lifts are designed to move passengers and goods between different floors of a building by moving a cabin (car) up and down a shaft. Escalators are passenger transportation systems providing vertical mobility by moving sets of stairs in an upward or downward direction between two floors. Both types of transportation systems use electrical drive systems and thus use electricity for operation. In addition to the drive system, further equipment is needed for operating these systems, including control systems and equipment to ensure comfort and safety for the users. Technologies included are: Drive system Car lighting Control systems and safety devices Operating panels and displays Doors Ventilation

The components listed above directly contribute to the consumption of electricity of an installation; their impact varies considerably from one installation to another, depending on their specific consumption and the frequency of usage. When analysing overall consumption of electrical energy of lifts and escalators three factors have to be taken into account: electricity consumption during operation (the lift or escalator is running)

electricity consumption during standby: the installation is not operating, but waiting (for the next passenger); the share of both operating modes (the share of time the installation is running or in standby, i.e. the frequency of usage).

It is important to keep this link between the three factors in mind when trying to identify measures to optimise energy efficiency of an installation. The first two factors, energy consumption during operation and standby, are technological properties of the system components and are fixed once during planning and installation. However, these values may change during the life-time of the installation (e.g. due to increased friction as a consequence of ageing and usage). The third factor, the relative shares of running and standby, mainly depends on exogenous factors that do not depend on the components, i.e. the frequency of usage (number of trips for lifts, regular running hours of the escalator). To reduce the energy demand of lifts and escalators, new installations as well as the stock of existing lifts have to be addressed.

3. Key Environmental Impacts

Like many other products that are manufactured from raw materials, the life cycle of lifts and escalators can be split into a number of phases, each of which has a level of environmental impact. The different phases can be broadly described as follows: Manufacture Distribution Operation, maintenance and renovation End of life disposal The various components of lifts and escalators will have different environmental impacts at different stages of the life cycle. However, lifts and escalators have very long life cycles (they can be operated up to 15 to 30 years without major modernization). This circumstance implies that the energy consumption in the operational phase throughout their lifespan, causes the predominant environmental impact that is the associated carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Therefore, the proposed core criteria are focused on the energy efficiency of the installation and provision of information.

Key Environmental Impacts

Emission of carbon dioxide from the electricity production

GPP Approach
Purchase energy efficient installations Maximise energy efficiency by correctly sizing and installing lift/escalator Use energy efficient systems and components (e.g high efficiency electric motors, advanced drives, high efficiency lamps, .) Switching-off equipment during low demand period Encourage the use of dimmable equipment where possible Ensure installation and maintenance are carried out by qualified personnel

4. GPP Criteria for Lifts

4.1. 4.2. Subject matter: Purchase/selection of energy efficient lift Core GPP Criteria for Lifts

SELECTION CRITERIA 4.2.1 The role of design staff, sales person and maintenance staff is very important when offering and selling technology and during maintenance service. They shall be trained and be familiar with issues of energy efficiency of lifts. Information and training should comprise the following elements: General information and familiarity with the product Instruction for proper use and maintenance Calculation methods for energy demand Measurement methods of electricity consumption Adjustment of the equipment and proper energy efficiency settings Service Verification: The contractor shall provide appropriate evidence that installers are suitably trained and familiar with energy efficiency issues and technologies. Existing training schemes and their certification that can demonstrate these requirements will be deemed to prove compliance.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Lifts are more often individually engineered installations than standardized products. In particular, they can be standard systems, more individualized systems based on standard components, or individually tailored installations where individual or standard components and equipment are used. A standardized methodology to measure and calculate the electricity consumption of lifts was developed within the European E4 project. In Germany VDI 4707 shows a possible way to calculation, measurement and also energy efficiency labelling. Another technical standard is neither available at the European nor at the international level. When energy efficiency criteria of lifts are requested, then the lift should be considered as a complete machine rather than a summary of individual components or technologies used. The two benchmark figures standby power and energy used for a reference trip give the rational. Those two figures were defined in the E4 methodology paper and have been used in the E4 project to estimate the energy used and its saving potential. To minimize those two figures, efficient lift components and technologies have to be selected. Both new and existing installations have to be considered to reduce the energy demand and consumption of lifts. New installations offer the widest range of possibilities to increase energy efficiency, while retrofit measures can be quite heterogeneous, in practice ranging from the replacement of a single component to the substitution of the whole installation. 4.2.2 Correct sizing of the installation The dimension of the car, the load and the speed determine among others the requirements for the drive system. If the motor or car sizes are overestimated, the energy efficiency of the lift will never be optimal. To determine the number of lifts, their relevant car size and speed, the specific needs for accessibility and emergency requirements in combination with a careful analysis of traffic handling and acceptable waiting times has to be carried out. Criteria: For new installations and larger retrofits the installation should be properly sized taking the building type and usage into consideration. Verification: The supplier shall provide appropriate evidence that the number and size of lifts have bee determined on the basis the required transport capacity.

4.2.3 High Efficiency Induction Motors The efficiency of the motor driving a lift system is a key component for energy consumption. The motor efficiency means the ratio between electrical input power and mechanical output power of the shaft. The higher the efficiency rating, the lower the losses during operation. High efficiency electric motors are characterized by lower losses and improved efficiency owing to the use of superior magnetic materials and the adoption of optimized design and construction techniques. The initial cost is higher but, over time, the efficiency improvement will translate into energy and financial savings. Due to lower losses the operating temperature can be lower, leading to improved reliability. Criteria: Induction motor efficiency should meet the values related with IE3 class in accordance with IEC Standard 60034-30, as shown in the following Figure.

Verification: The supplier shall provide the technical specification of the motor or a written declaration to demonstrate this criterion is met. 4.2.4 Permanent Magnet Motors Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (PMSMs) are rapidly becoming the leading motor technology within the lift market in Europe. They present many advantages, such as a simplified mechanical system for the lift, improved comfort, reduced noise and vibration, and energy savings. Since these motors do not have windings in the rotor instead the magnetic field is provided by the magnets they have less Joule losses than induction motors

10

and the magnetic losses in the rotor are also much reduced. The compactness of PMSMs and the use of direct drive coupling allowed for the elimination of the machine room, above or adjacent to the hoist way. Even though present asynchronous VVVF gearless technology is very energy efficient, the motor and drive efficiencies are usually less than 90%, for lower powers; however PM motors show a much higher efficiency levels of induction motors fed by inverters. Criteria: For new installations and larger retrofits motors should be chosen to have a high efficiency. Verification: The supplier shall provide the technical specification of the motor. 4.2.5 Advanced drives The advent of power semiconductors and subsequent evolution of AC motor control techniques has led to its wide spread use with equivalent ride quality and even some advantages such as lower maintenance, faster response, energy savings, lower peak demand and better power factor. The capability to vary motor speed to match motor output to load often results in energy savings. Variable speed drivers are used to improve the efficiency of motor driven equipment by matching speed to changing load requirements and to allow accurate and continuous process control over a wide range of speeds. Today, the most widely used drive system is the Variable Voltage Variable Frequency (VVVF) drive. VVVF drives improve energy efficiency, ride comfort, levelling accuracy, and reduce the dimensioning of the main power supply due to lower peak load. The use of frequency converters can lead to additional stand-by consumption. Modern units provide an auto standby function, this means that internal components automatically switch to reduced or no consumption when not needed. Criteria: For new installations and larger retrofits VVVF drives should have an efficiency of 95% and include an auto stand-by function. Verification: The supplier shall provide the technical specification of the VSD. 4.2.6 Regenerative drivers

11

Potential energy is constantly being transferred while the car is moving. If, for example, a lift is travelling down full (or up empty) the motor is actually being driven by the load and preventing the car from falling. Typically, the generated (braking) power in the motor is dissipated in a resistance, returned to the main supply naturally, if the motor, acting as a generator, is directly connected to the grid or, depending on the topology, some VVVF drives also allow the braking energy to be injected back to the power network. In some countries there are restrictions on the injection of power into the distribution network. Even in these cases, regenerative braking should not pose a problem, since the total load of the building (computers, servers, lighting, HVAC) will be higher than the peak power injected by a lift. When the lift is going down, and the load weight (people inside) is larger than the counterweight, then the motor torque is in opposite direction to the speed, i.e., the motor is braking. In the same way, when the lift is going up unloaded, energy savings can be reached if the motor is controlled with a regenerative VVVF drive. Theoretically, if there were no losses, the regenerated energy would be equal to the motoring energy. However, there are still losses due to the existence of friction losses (e.g. friction in the guide rails, air resistance), motor losses (e.g. the copper losses, the iron losses and the friction and windage losses) and, in geared systems, losses in the gearbox (this is especially significant in systems equipped with worm gears where the efficiency in the reverse direction is considerably lower than in the forward direction). Because it adds a significant cost to the installation, regeneration is not always cost-effective, especially in reduced traffic, low- and mid-rise buildings. It has been estimated that for small lifts (630 kg, 1.6 m/s) the degree of energy recovery is below 30%, while for large installations (2200 kg, 2.5 m/s) it can be up to 40%. In conventional hydraulic systems, braking energy from a descending car is dissipated via a throttling valve. Recent hydraulic solutions allow for example to accumulate pressure in a storage vessel due to a descending car. This pressure can reduce the energy consumption to hoist the car during the next usage. Criteria: For new installations and larger retrofits, drive system with regenerative capabilities should be evaluated (especially for often running, large installations) Verification: The supplier should provide evidence that regeneration is a cost effective option for the specific application.

12

4.2.7 Lighting Depending on system configuration and usage, lighting can be a major contributor to overall consumption of electricity of lifts and therefore provides a good opportunity to save energy. Lift car lighting is usually provided either by incandescent or fluorescent lamps. LED lighting is a technology that has been subject to great improvements in the last few years. Although LEDs are still expensive when compared to other types of lamps, their price is likely to decrease thanks to the economy of scale and is already offset by a very long lifetime that can reach 50,000 hours. Additionally, their lifetime is not reduced by frequent on/off cycles. LEDs are also a very efficient solution for displays which can be dimmed for even lower consumption. A comparison of the major lamp characteristics in showed in the following table. Type of Lamp Incandescent Halogen incandescent Compact fluorescent (CFL) Linear fluorescent High Power White LED Lifetime (hours) 750-2,000 3,000-4,000 8,000-10,000 20,000-30,000 35,000-50,000 Lumen efficacy (lm/W) 10-18 15-20 35-60 50-100 30-150

Criteria: Lamps should have at least a lumen efficacy of 35 lm/W. Lamps that meet the above specification shall be installed in new installations and in existing lift installations where possible. Verification: The supplier shall provide the technical specification of the lamp or a written declaration to demonstrate this criterion is met. 4.2.8 Gearing and roping of the system A gear is used to transform the torque-speed ratio of a motor. In traction lifts, this gear is found between the motor and the traction wheel. A gear has moving parts, causing friction and thus causing energy losses. The overall amount of losses depends, among others, on the type of gearing used. Using a high efficiency gear or removing a gear can thus increase energy efficiency. Roping, that means the configuration of how car and counterweight are connected to the motor, has a similar function as gearing, as it can help to reduce the required torque of the motor. Modern traction systems are nowadays offered as gearless systems, using high torque motors to move the car.

13

Criteria: For new installations and larger retrofits high efficiency gear (e.g. helical gear with efficiency of 96 %) or gearless systems should be utilized. Verification: The supplier shall provide the technical specification of the gear. 4.2.9 Switching-off energy consuming equipment Besides using efficient components, standby energy consumption can be reduced by switching-off equipment when the lift is in standby mode. In this case, components that can be instantly turned on would be switched off automatically at a predetermined time after the last call. Some examples would be: lighting, ventilation, car displays (directional arrows, floor indicator, etc.). Using these solutions, that do not involve an increase in passenger waiting time, can reduce the energy consumption of the car lighting and the fan by up to 50%. Criteria: New installations and retrofits should foresee the use of switching-off solutions for all non-essential components (e.g. lighting, ventilation, car displays). Verification: The supplier shall provide a signed declaration indicating that proper switching-off solutions have been used for non-essential components. 4.2.10 Standby mechanism for door closure Arbitrarily opening doors are a safety hazard in lifts. Therefore car doors must remain shut while the car is moving, for safety reasons. When locking mechanisms rely on a stalled motor to keep doors closed, these systems permanently require energy, also when lift is stationary. In order to improve energy efficiency of the installation, it is advisable to avoid stalled motor door operator and to adopt suitable solutions that de-energize door motor when lift is idle and unoccupied. Criteria: New installations and retrofits should foresee the use of suitable solutions in order to de-energize the door motor when the lift is stationary. Verification: The supplier shall provide appropriate evidence of the adoption of suitable solutions that de-energize the door motor when the lift is idle and unoccupied. 4.2.11 Traffic Handling / Management Optimizing traffic handling and management can be both relevant for single installations as well for groups of installations For grouped lifts, a number of traffic control algorithms has been developed that define the strategies undertaken in order to optimise their use by, for example:

14

minimising passenger waiting time minimising passenger journey time maximising the handling capacity minimising the energy consumption

Nowadays, traffic control systems rely on more than one algorithm or program to allocate lifts to landing calls, depending on the pattern and intensity of the traffic flow. For the selection of the appropriate algorithm, a traffic analyser assesses the prevailing traffic conditions. Criteria: New installations and large retrofits of grouped lifts should include traffic controllers based on artificial intelligence techniques artificial neural networks, fuzzy logics and/or genetic algorithms to enhance the services effectiveness. Verification: The supplier shall provide appropriate evidence that the control system has been designed in order to guarantee efficient operation of the installation (best traffic control strategy).

CONTRACT PERFORMANCE CLAUSES Sales information. The buyer should be provided with guidance and information on the energy consumption of the system and how it can be limited. In particular, the following product information shall be provided with the lift: Technology (Hydraulic, Geared, Gearless) Load (kg) Rise (m) Speed (m/s) Rated Motor Power (kW) Running Energy Consumption per Cycle (Wh) and (mWh/m kg) Standby Power (W)

Running Energy Consumption per Cycle and Standby Power could be calculated and measured according with the methodology developed within the E4 project. Verification: The supplier shall provide the products information that demonstrate compliance with requirements of energy performance of the lift.

15

5. GPP Criteria for Escalators

5.1. 5.2. Subject matter: Purchase of energy efficient escalators Core GPP Criteria for Escalators

SELECTION CRITERIA 5.2.1 Fitters, dealers and service personnel shall be fully trained and be familiar with the purchased escalator. Information and training should comprise the following elements: General information and familiarity with the product Instruction for proper use and maintenance Measurement methods of electricity consumption Adjustment of the equipment and proper energy efficiency settings Service Verification: The contractor shall provide appropriate evidence that installers are suitably trained and familiar with energy efficiency issues and technologies. Existing training schemes and their certification that can demonstrate these requirements will be deemed to prove compliance. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS As in lifts, energy efficiency of components is of the utmost importance for escalator. High efficiency motors, drives, transmissions, bearings, etc. can yield significant savings and are, in many cases, cost-effective. 5.2.2 High efficiency and properly sized motor The drive motors in escalators plus the handrail motor should be selected from the most energy-efficient motors. In addition, a motor should be chosen that provides a good efficiency ratio when running outside the nominal point of operation. Criteria: For new installations and large retrofits high efficiency electric motors should be used. Verification: The supplier shall provide the technical specification of the motor.

16

5.2.3 Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) Normally, escalators are always moving regardless of load conditions causing energy wastage when there are no passengers to move. One of the greatest opportunities for improvement is, therefore, to adequately adjust the speed to the passenger demand at any given time by the use of variable-voltage or variablevoltage variable-frequency converter. In the first option the escalator is kept travelling at nominal speed. By reducing the voltage under low load conditions the magnetizing current is also reduced, decreasing the motor iron losses, which are proportional to the square of the magnetic flux. Joule losses are also reduced as well as increasing the power factor. This type of equipment incorporates a soft-start and is small enough to replace the starter fitted in existing systems. When using VVVF drive the speed can be adjusted to match the passenger demand reducing energy consumption and wear. Unlike other options, VVVF drives provide very smooth, almost imperceptible speed transitions. Typically, three modes of operation are provided by variable speed escalators. After a predefined period of inactivity, escalators reduce their speed and reach the so called reduced-speed mode. The consumption in this reduced-speed mode is more or less half the consumption in the normal operation mode. After reaching this mode of operation, and after another predefined interval of time, the escalator is put into a STOP mode. At this STOP mode only the control system and the passenger detection system (pressure mats, photocells or infrared beams) are kept running. When a passenger is detected the escalator slowly begins to move again, gently accelerating until it reaches nominal speed. Depending on the intensity of use of the escalator these options can save up to 40% of the escalators energy consumption. Criteria: New installation and large retrofit should use variable-voltage or variablevoltage variable-frequency converter to adequately adjust the speed to the passenger demand at any given time. Verification: The supplier shall provide the technical specification of the VSDs.

17

6. References
Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts. Directive 2004/17/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors. How green is your public procurement ? http://ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/toolkit_en.htm Almeida, Anbal T. de; Patro, Carlos; Fong, Joo; Nunes, Urbano; Arajo, Rui (2009b): Technology assessment. Project report D4.1 of the E4 project. Final report of 20/11/2009. Simon Hirzel; Elisabeth Dtschke; Guidelines for new lift installations and retrofitting Project report D5.2 of the E4 project. Final report of 24/02/2010 Karlsruhe: Fraunhofer ISI. Simon Hirzel; Elisabeth Dtschke; Barriers to and strategies for promoting energyefficient lift and escalator technologies Project report D5.1 of the E4 project. Final report of 25/02/2010. Karlsruhe: Fraunhofer ISI. Eco-Procurement The Path to a Greener Marketplace, ICLEI, 2002 Are you practising Green Public Procurement? The LEAP partners are! LEAP final leaflet, Leicester City Council, 2006 Build for All Reference Manual Project brief _RESPIRO_final, ICLEI, March 2007 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eussd/escp_en.htm http://www.euleb.info/ http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/projects/doc/factsheets/green-it.pdf http://www.iclei-europe.org/?deep http://www.smart-spp.eu/

18