Is It Worth Turning Off Escalators To Save Energy?
There are some 30,000 escalators in this country, most of them running constantly, according to Next American City. While some see that as a waste of energy (enough to power 375,000 homes) others see it as a necessary accommodation for people with disabilities, heart conditions, or injuries. Many countries in Europe and Asia have sleeping escalators that only run when somebody approaches them. New York City installed 35 of these “green” escalators in four subway stations last year, and the Energy Efficiency Act calls for putting them in the Capitol Building as well. But would this really save energy? Starting up the escalators over and over again could waste more energy than simply keeping them running. Though it might be an energy saver for escalators that are only used infrequently, or have certain periods of high traffic – during commute hours – and other times when they are more dormant. But determining whether escalators could be made more efficient, or if running them intermitten
