Green Building Forum - Down only escalators

Down only escalators

tony — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:21:29 +0100

Had an interesting discussion with a bemused top manager of a transportation provider about escalators on 24/7

After I wrote to T5 about this they now mostly only run escalators on demand

But for up escalators all the work of lifting people is at an energy cost, if there were down escalators (not the case in question) almost all the energy could be reclaimed.

But if there were more down escalators than up ones then energy could be generated free of charge form the general public

Down only escalators

Peter_S — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:57:59 +0100

I think this idea could have 'legs'

Down only escalators

JSHarris — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:18:17 +0100

So how do the extra people get up to the top floor to use the extra down escalators? Surely there needs to be equilibrium, where the number of people going up = the number going down?

Maybe escalators should get replaced with zero energy counterbalanced lifts, where the people going up are moved by the weight of the people going down...............

Down only escalators

Nick Parsons — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:56:59 +0100

Funiculi, funicular.....

Down only escalators

fostertom — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:06:32 +0100

Posted By: JSHarrishow do the extra people get up to the top floor to use the extra down escalators?

fireman's pole? quantum indeterminacy? faith?

Down only escalators

bot de paille — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:11:17 +0100

Posted By: fostertom
Posted By: JSHarrishow do the extra people get up to the top floor to use the extra down escalators?
fireman's pole? quantum indeterminacy? faith?

747,737, a380 and lots of jet fuel

Down only escalators

tony — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:33:40 +0100

My idea is that they walk up some stairs like I do, (I try to never use escalators or lifts)

two down escalators for every one up one?

Down only escalators

Joiner — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:48:11 +0100

Instead of escalators, down lifts only, operated by a braked system that generates enough electricity to lift the (empty) lift back to the top again.

Also, brilliant idea this, the 'up' stairs actually drop back a rise from the weight of people going up to generate enough electricity to supplement the return of the lifts. Would mean people would have to run up the stairs to make any headway, but hey, think of the savings on the NHS with a population really fit again.

What?

Down only escalators

SteamyTea — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:07:17 +0100

Would need to be very low friction, which could make it a very rapid decent.
I was over 40 before I ran down an Up escalator

Down only escalators

Joiner — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:45:18 +0100

It's the nice, comforting, woolly green thought that counts.

Down only escalators

Gotanewlife — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:20:54 +0100

Wimp! You have to run up the down escalator for it to be worth bragging about.

Down only escalators

Joiner — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:36:55 +0100

Down only escalators

CWatters — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:47:02 +0100

Posted By: tony
But if there were more down escalators than up ones then energy could be generated free of charge form the general public

No what you need is more people wanting to go down than up. Your suggestion only works if having fewer up escalators encourages people to use the stairs.

Since people usually gain weight on holiday perhaps best put arrivals on the top floor :-)

Down only escalators

SteamyTea — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:06:19 +0100

Food poisoning made me loose weight, and that was a trip to Devon

Down only escalators

Joiner — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:45:24 +0100

That's the answer then. Anyone with a BMI >30 should only be allowed to buy food in a special cordoned-off area selling only food that has gone past its sell-by date.

(And how did you manage to correlate weight loss with a trip to Devon? )

Down only escalators

tony — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:57:29 +0100

How about all the up people walk up say six normal steps first then take the escalator? would that make it balance?

Down only escalators

Joiner — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:05:17 +0100

H&S issues?

Down only escalators

fostertom — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:50:41 +0100

Posted By: Joinerhow did you manage to correlate weight loss with a trip to Devon?

Posted By: SteamyTea... ability to link two unrelated examples together to make a fact

Down only escalators

Joiner — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:56:58 +0100

Aaah. Get it.

Down only escalators

SteamyTea — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:00:35 +0100