How much Energy does an Elevator Use?

The annual energy consumption of an elevator is made up of various factors. While the movement of the car is the most important criterion, other points should also be taken into account:

In addition to the drive, the cabin equipment, the type of elevator, the energy efficiency of the engine, the height of the building and the degree of modernity of the system play an important role. According to these factors, the energy consumption of an elevator system can therefore account for between around 5% and in some cases even up to 10% of a building.

How much energy do different types of elevators use?

The energy consumption of an elevator depends on the elevator type.

Hydraulic Elevators: Flexible but high Energy Consumption

With hydraulic elevators, energy consumption can be quite high: for a 3-story building equipped with a hydraulic elevator, the elevator's electricity consumption can be close to 4,000 kWh per year. Compared to other types of elevators, such as cable elevators, the energy consumption can be very high.

Electric Cable Elevators: Efficient Energy Savers

Things are different with electric rope elevators: for a 6-story building, the annual energy consumption of an electric rope elevator is around 3,000 kWh per year. With the same load and in a building twice as tall, this is slightly less than the typical consumption of a hydraulic elevator. One of our most eco-efficient elevators is our EOX model. Electronic cable elevators have the further advantage that elevator repairs or elevator modernization can be carried out more easily.

Reducing Elevator Maintenance Efforts may Increase Operating Cost

Elevator maintenance cost may seem high and it can be tempting for building operators to skip a few maintenance intervals. However, savings in elevator maintenance often only make sense at first glance. Although expenses are reduced in the short term, in practice these supposed savings may be offset by increased costs associated with higher elevator energy consumption levels. Aside from potential safety risks, as well as the increased risk of a prolonged outage, postponing modernization or skipping maintenance intervals can thus be a poor cost reduction strategy. If not maintained properly, an elevator tends to use more energy overall and is more prone to breakdowns, which may require extensive and ultimately more expensive repairs.

to determine which strategy can help you minimize the costs of operating your elevators.