Joint research carried out by specialist lift consultants, SVM Associates and the corporate wellness company, StepJockey, has concluded that workplace lifts are using up to 36 per cent more energy than initially foreseen by manufacturers.
The ‘Smarter Buildings: Real-world energy use of lifts/elevators in contemporary office buildings‘ report – which measured the activities of hydraulic, geared and gearless traction systems in three office building scenarios– also found that geared traction lifts were the worst offenders in the analysis; and changing working patterns such as flexi-time arrangements is also to blame for the increase in pressure and energy levels.
CEO of StepJockey, Paul Nuki, said: “Modern businesses demand much more in the way of teamwork and flexible working to succeed. This has had a major impact on office lift system and the result is that many millions of working hours are being wasted each year. By promoting stair use companies can improve productivity, cut their carbon footprint and boost workplace health.”
Download the full report here
