Energy efficient solutions

Companies are directing their research towards development of elevators and escalators that enable low energy consumption

he elevators market in the UAE is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 8 per cent during 2016–2021, according to a Research and Markets report. This increasing demand for smart elevators and escalators can be attributed to high living standards, increase in the number of residential units, burgeoning hospitality industry and booming construction market, which is backed by considerable investments by public and private enterprises in the country.

According to a recent report by Transparency Market Research, the rapid rate of urbanisation in the Middle East has facilitated the increased adoption of smart elevators and escalators in low-, mid, and high-rise buildings and other construction projects. Furthermore, concerns regarding the energy-intensive nature of construction activity, strict emission norms, and rising awareness regarding environmentally friendly operations are pushing the construction industry to adopt green measures on a vast scale.

The report highlighted that almost 73 per cent of construction firms in the UAE have already taken steps to ensure that future projects are green. This trend is all set to have a huge impact on the demand for energy efficient escalators and elevators, in turn advancing the global smart elevators and escalators market.

Another report from Research and Markets found that the Energy Efficient Elevators Market would rise at a CAGR of 9.5 per cent from 2015 to 2020.

Companies are quick to adopt this trend. For instance, industryleading firm ThyssenKrupp has developed a net-zero energy system that can be implemented in existing elevators, while Otis’ Gen2 system is upto 50 per cent more energy-efficient than conventional elevators, as it does not require any additional lubrication, eliminates the need for storage, cleanup, and disposal of hazardous waste. Firms such as KONE provides eco-efficient elevators, escalators, and autowalks; Toshiba’s green elevators provide 40 per cent energy savings compared to conventional elevators and have already been launched in the region, and Schindler’s 7000 uses highly efficient frequency controlled motors and feature Power Factor 1 drives that reduce energy consumption by up to 35 per cent compared to standard drives and regenerate energy back into the building’s electrical system.

Today, companies have increasingly started directing their research efforts towards the development of solutions that enable low energy consumption and are environmentally responsible throughout their life cycle from sourcing of raw materials right through to demolition.