AdSimulo reports extended for BREEAM energy assessment of lifts

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method) is the world’s leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and is used to measure a building’s environmental performance.

AdSimulo can now be used not only to define the optimum number of lifts required for a given building but also to assist in verifying that the requirements of “Ene 8 – Lifts” as specified within BREEAM Europe Commercial 2013 has been met. Energy consumption simulation results for two types of drive systems for the lifts under consideration i.e. regenerative and non-regenerative can be assessed thereby ensuring that the first credit is achieved. The second credit is down to lift specification.

An example and more details are set out below. Within the standard can be found:

Ene 8 – Lifts

Aim:

To recognise and encourage the specification of energy-efficient transportation systems.

Assessment Criteria:

The following demonstrates compliance:
First Credit

  1. An analysis of transport demand and patterns for the building has been carried out by the design team to determine the optimum number and size of lifts and counterbalancing ratio on the basis of anticipated passenger demand.
  2. The energy consumption for at least two types of lift or lift strategy ‘fit for purpose’ has been estimated and the system with the lowest energy consumption specified.
    The first credit is achieved.

Second credit

Of the following energy-efficient features, the three that offer the greatest potential for energy saving are specified:

  1. The lifts operate in a stand-by mode during off-peak and idle periods. For example the power side of the lift controller and other auxiliary equipment such as lift car lighting and ventilation fan switch off when the lift is not in motion.
  2. Where lift motors use a drive controller capable of variable-speed, variable-voltage, variable-frequency control of the drive motor.
  3. The lift has a regenerative unit so that energy generated by the lift (due to running up empty and down full) is returned back to the grid or used elsewhere on site.
  4. The lift car uses energy-efficient lighting and display lighting (>60 Lumens/watt or fittings that consume less than 5W e.g. LEDS).

The second credit is achieved.

Within the reports section of AdSimulo you simply need to click on “Energy Consumption” and you will be presented with a graph and a table. An example is shown below:

news-energy_consumption

[su_table]

Lift Speed [m/s] Capacity [kg] Decks Rating [kW] Travel Distance [m] Running Current Flu [A] Starting Current Flacc [A] Heat Output [kW] Non Regenerative [kWH] Regenerative [kWH]
1 3.5 2000 Single 56.6 88.2 141.5 424.5 24.4 35729 26819.6
2 3.5 2000 Single 56.6 88.2 141.5 424.5 24.4 35729 26819.6

[/su_table]

This provides all the information needed to meet the requirements of item 2 for the first credit. Use of Adsimulo will automatically qualify for meeting item 1 of the first credit. The figures for kWH consumption are annual totals based on intensive use of the equipment and are for comparative purposes only since actual usage of lifts will vary greatly in practice.

Note this report also provides information for planning other services requirements such as electrical supply requirements.