Comments on: Report Details Cash Saved in NYC on Green Retrofits http://inhabitat.com/report-details-cash-saved-in-nyc-on-green-retrofits/ Green design & eco innovation for a better world Wed, 22 May 2013 15:39:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: jsellen http://inhabitat.com/report-details-cash-saved-in-nyc-on-green-retrofits/comment-page-1/#comment-241285 jsellen Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:29:09 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=124441#comment-241285 Green buildings are great and everyone seems to want LEED certification. Modernizing the elevators with modern, microprocessor equipment and regenerative drives can add to the energy savings. However, at this time, improvements in energy efficiency do NOT score you LEED points. The overall comsumption of building power by the elevators is a relatively small percetage of the whole buildings power usage. Also, be sure to check out potential rebates from power companies. This can amount to substantial savings. Overall, the rebates offered (if any) and the energy savings do NOT, in and of themselves, justify elevator modernization and certainly do not come close to a 1:1 payback, even over 20+ years. However, a 5 figure rebate from the power company and a reduction in elevator usage of 30% or more help to make the decision easier. When the elevators need to be modernized anyway, because they are old and inefficient as people movers, the money that comes back through these savings are a nice bonus! Green buildings are great and everyone seems to want LEED certification. Modernizing the elevators with modern, microprocessor equipment and regenerative drives can add to the energy savings. However, at this time, improvements in energy efficiency do NOT score you LEED points. The overall comsumption of building power by the elevators is a relatively small percetage of the whole buildings power usage. Also, be sure to check out potential rebates from power companies. This can amount to substantial savings.

Overall, the rebates offered (if any) and the energy savings do NOT, in and of themselves, justify elevator modernization and certainly do not come close to a 1:1 payback, even over 20+ years. However, a 5 figure rebate from the power company and a reduction in elevator usage of 30% or more help to make the decision easier. When the elevators need to be modernized anyway, because they are old and inefficient as people movers, the money that comes back through these savings are a nice bonus!

]]>