Dec 12 2007
Leading elevator and escalator manufacturer, services and solutions provider KONE Inc. just unveiled a new elevator system that is improving energy efficiency at the historic Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. While cutting electricity consumption in half, the ReSolve with Unity Drive, that is part of the new elevator's control system, enhances service by providing improved passenger handling capacity and modern controls.
"This is an excellent example of how today's sustainable technology can be utilized in older buildings. Green building concepts are not just for new construction, " said Vance Tang, President KONE Inc. While the Emily Morgan has only been a hotel since 1984, the building itself has been a part of the San Antonio skyline since the mid-1920s. "To bring modern, energy-efficient controls to a San Antonio landmark, without changing its historic features, demonstrates KONE's continuous movement towards innovative, energy efficient solutions. It also showcases our unique capability to modernize with minimal disruption to the existing building and, most importantly, our customers."
Built in 1924 and named the Medical Arts Building, the hotel originally served as doctor's offices. Standing next to the Alamo, the Emily Morgan Hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places as contributing to the Alamo Plaza Historic District. It's one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.
The elevator renovation project called for the installation of KONE LCE Logic Controls, as well as the KONE jointly designed Magnetek Quattro DC regenerative drives. The project began in May of this year and was completed in November, with each elevator being taken off-line individually to avoid disruptions and ensure normal hotel operations.
As part of the overall renovation, extensive measurements were taken to determine energy consumption, electrical efficiency and peak electrical usage before and after the modernization. With the new system in place, testing data showed a significant reduction of 45.7 percent in Watt-hours, a 78 percent reduction in Volt-Amp hours, and a 31 percent reduction in high-cost peak demand charges, which indicates lower energy consumption and increased efficiency.
"With KONE, it's not just about getting a project done and moving on," Tang said. "We're committed to providing industry leading products and services and working with our customers to create energy efficient systems that will be sustainable over the long term."
As part of community "Greening" efforts, San Antonio City Public Services offered a commercial energy rebate program for 2007. KONE worked closely with the Emily Morgan Hotel to ensure that the new system would be in place and that the hotel was eligible for the rebate. As a result of the elevator renovations, the hotel will receive almost $17,000 in rebates for 2007.