Moving an 80,000-pound metal box means using energy, and elevators can account for 2-10% of a buildings energy use.

There are about 7.6 billion people on earth and, according to Smithsonian Magazine, those people take more than 7 billion elevator trips every day. That vertical movement costs energy and the need adds up quickly. "Newer elevators already incorporate green features such as LED lights, water soluble paint and recycled construction materials, but many companies have begun to explore a wide and somewhat outlandish array of alternatives to the traditional rope-and-pulley systems of a hundred years ago," Adrienne Bernhard reports for the Smithsonian Magazine.
An elevator can weigh 4 tons, consuming energy even when it's not in use. "In fact, elevators typically account for between 2 percent and 10 percent of a building’s energy use," Bernhard reports. But regenerative drive systems that reclaim some of the energy they use has cut into that energy cost for some new elevator designs. There are also machine room-less elevators, which allow for flat roofs, that are easier to use for solar power generation. "In 2017, Thyssenkrupp Elevator became the first company to retrofit an existing elevator to achieve net-zero energy," Bernhard writes.
FULL STORY: Elevators Are Going Green

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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