KONE Eco-Efficient Solutions
In the world, with the growing rate of urbanization, the matter of designing and construction of environmentally friendly buildings that are equipped with the most advanced engineering systems that do not harm the environment becomes top-priority. Modern elevators and escalators produced by Finnish company KONE do not only ensure comfort and safety of their customers but also allow them to save energy and contribute to reducing emissions of carbon dioxide. The introduction of ecoefficient KONE solutions significantly increases the chances of buildings to receive international environmental certifications such as LEED or BREEAM.
KONE is known for its revolutionary solutions in the field of environmental safety. From 2008 to 2012 the energy consumption of its products was reduced by 70%, and all commercial KONE elevators were assigned energy efficiency class A. The company offers innovative solutions for elevators, escalators and moving sidewalks that allow designing buildings where there is nothing to prevent the convenient and safe passenger flow and that save energy during their operation. Great importance is given to the reduction of CO2 emissions that result from manufacturing operations as well as the minimization of waste, water consumption and use of hazardous substances. The purpose of KONE is the annual reduction in CO2 emissions by 3%.
KONE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The results of performance monitoring of KONE elevators and escalators throughout their life cycle show that the greatest impact of hoisting equipment on the environment is related to the electricity spent on its functioning. Therefore with every new batch released KONE focuses its efforts on reducing the energy consumption of its equipment.
Elevators based on KONE EcoDisc® energy-efficient hoisting machines consume 50-70% less energy compared to traditional two-speed or hydraulic lifts. Furthermore, unlike hydraulic ones KONE EcoDisc® not require any oil or the walls to be perforated.
When the elevator is not used by passengers the system switches it to a standby mode, which provides significant energy savings, especially in buildings with a low load factor of the equipment. KONE Polaris ™ integrated control system of access to floors optimizes the operation of elevators without overloading the equipment.
The escalators also operate in an eco-efficiency mode. With no people on the escalator the slow motion mode or the full stop can save up to 50% of the energy. Otherwise, with a high flow of people the engine performance increases. The escalator chain that does not require lubrication reduces oil consumption, equipment deterioration and eliminates the risk of fire. KONE Direct Drive consumes 20% less energy compared to the conventional worm gear drive.
And thanks to the integrated recovery system one can bring back up to 60% of the energy used by the escalators. Besides, LED and energy saving fluorescent lamps that consume 80% less energy than halogen bulbs provide significant savings. Moreover, the lifespan of LED lamps is much higher than that of traditional sources of artificial light, and the light flux is distributed more evenly.
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Materials provided by KONE