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23 C H A P T E R 4 Selecting and verifying energy savings technologies can be difficult due to the variabil- ity in escalator and moving walkway usage and passenger flow. Several key metrics should be collected and measured prior to the installation of any energy saving technologies in order to identify, review, and select the most sensible and location-specific energy efficient technologies. Key parameters that should be evaluated prior to selecting energy saving technologies include the following: ⢠Escalator/moving walkway passenger traffic/flow; ⢠Energy saving technologies currently installed; ⢠Age and operation of escalators/moving walkways; ⢠Clearances/space available to install new technologies; ⢠Safety considerations (ASME 17.1); and ⢠Length, width, height of escalator/walkway. Gathering the necessary data takes time. It is very important that the escalator/moving walk- way passenger flow be as complete and accurate as possible. Depending on airport size, this could take several weeks. Once an airport manager has gathered all of the data available, he or she can determine which energy saving technologies may have the potential for effective installation and use in the airport based on the technology information contained in this report. The finan- cial tool can then be used to analyze each of these potential technologies to determine the following: ⢠Total energy savings of selected technologies, ⢠Financial payback period, ⢠Return on investment (ROI), and ⢠Net present value (NPV). The airport manager can take the output of the financial tool and use it to justify the project to the decision-making body. Overview of Process The following section discusses the steps for selecting and implementing an energy saving project. Although this section was written for escalator and moving walkway projects, the steps described also can be applied to other energy saving projects within the airport. How to Select and Implement Energy Saving Technologies
24 Airport Escalators and Moving WalkwaysâCost-Savings and Energy Reduction Technologies Step 1: Define Project Scope and Develop Objectives The first step of the process is to develop a scope for the project and define the objectives. This can be done by first answering a set of questions about the project. Sample questions that should be answered when developing the project scope include the following: ⢠What are the criteria for selecting which escalators and moving walkways will be updated (e.g., age, location, etc.)? ⢠How many escalators/moving walkways will be updated? ⢠What are the criteria for selecting which technologies to install (e.g., payback, initial cost, annual cost savings, etc.)? ⢠What code or safety limitations are present that may exclude certain technologies? For exam- ple, if the state has not adopted the ASME 17.1 2010 and a variance cannot be obtained, inter- mittent drives will not be a viable option. During Step 1, also develop objectives or goals for the project. Examples of project goals are as follows: ⢠Reduce annual escalator energy consumption by 10 percent. ⢠Eliminate utility fees for poor power factors on escalators/moving walkways. Step 2: Collect Data Collect the data recommended in the previous step for each escalator/walkway being consid- ered for the project. A printable data collection form is provided in Appendix A. It is important that the data samples include a representation of all passenger traffic flow pat- terns. The financial tool collects the passenger flow for given time periods inclusive of the entire time the escalator is in use. The passenger flow not only has a significant impact on the systemâs energy use in current conditions, but also has a significant impact on the potential savings associ- ated with each of the energy saving technologies considered. If there are plans to evaluate a return on investment (ROI) that includes the cost of the overall project, then a request for estimates from the manufacturer is warranted. Technolo- gies can be evaluated with the financial tool without manufacturing costs but will only focus on energy saved. Step 3: Evaluate Options for Savings and Select an Approach Use the financial tool to evaluate the various technologies or combinations of technolo- gies being considered for the project. A detailed description on how to use the financial tool is included in Chapter 5. The financial tool calculates the following metrics: ⢠Current energy consumption and cost per year, ⢠Potential energy consumption and cost per year with the implementation of a user-selected energy saving technology, ⢠Potential annual energy and cost savings, ⢠Payback period, ⢠Return on investment (ROI), and ⢠Cost savings over the life of the escalator. The financial tool and this report do not provide cost estimates for the installation of a given technology. Several variables impact the cost of installation. Therefore, cost estimates are not
How to Select and Implement Energy Saving Technologies 25 provided in the financial tool. The location of the escalator, manufacturer, and difficulty of installation are just a few variables that impact total installation cost. In addition to the metrics calculated by the financial tool, relevant regulations and safety impacts should be considered. For example, the following decision factors should be considered: ⢠Impact on passenger safety, ⢠Compliance with state regulations, and ⢠Impact on insurance costs. Step 4: Receive Approval from Management After the project scope, potential savings, impact on safety, code compliance, and other impor- tant decision-making factors are determined, the next step is to receive approval from manage- ment. Individuals and groups that may have a stake in whether the project will be implemented include the following: ⢠Lead engineer, ⢠Chief executive officer (CEO), ⢠Chief operating officer (COO), ⢠Legal department, and ⢠Finance department. The Output Sheet of the financial tool accompanying this report is formatted to be printed and presented to management. However, it should be noted that the energy savings, cost savings, pay- back, and other financial metrics shown in the tool are estimates. In addition to the information pre- sented in the financial tool, code and safety considerations also should be presented to management. Step 5: Implement Approach After a technology is selected and approval is received from management, the next steps are to receive quotes from manufacturers and to implement an approach. Table 3-2 lists the major manufacturers that participated in this project and the technologies each supplies. Manufacturers may use different product names to refer to the same technology. For example, the motor efficiency controller is often referred to as the Soft Start, Sinusoidal Drive, E-Save, or by another name unique to the manufacturer. Step 6: Evaluate Performance If metering equipment is available, a recommended but optional step is to measure and verify the energy savings as a result of the upgrade. This step requires that baseline energy readings be taken prior to the installation. It is recommended that the baseline measurements and post- upgrade measurements be taken for 24 hours per day over a 7-day period to ensure all passenger flow scenarios are covered. Measurements taken before and after the upgrade should be taken with the same equipment to ensure consistency. Equipment that may be required to verify the savings include the following: ⢠Three-phase electrical energy meter with data logging, ⢠Watt meter with data logging, and ⢠Multimeter with data logging.
26 Airport Escalators and Moving WalkwaysâCost-Savings and Energy Reduction Technologies Monitoring performance not only allows verification that the system is performing as expected, but also helps to identify potential issues with the installation. If the proper metering equipment is available, measurements should be taken regularly throughout the year to verify that the equipment continues to perform as expected. If the energy use of the unit changes sig- nificantly, this would be an indicator that the configuration or settings on a component of the system may have changed over time and need to be reset. Evaluating performance also can benefit the management approval process for future proj- ects. The ability to refer to a previously validated, successful project will reinforce confidence in future projects.
