Kone’s Energy-efficient Solutions for Greener Buildings

Founded with an objective to offer the best People Flow® experience by developing and delivering solutions that enable people to move smoothly, safely, comfortably, and without waiting in buildings in an increasingly urbanizing environment, KONE today provides energy- efficient industry-leading elevators, escalators, automatic building doors, and integrated solutions that enhance the People Flow in and between buildings. KONE's services cover the entire lifetime of a building, from the design phase to maintenance, repairs, and modernization solutions.

According to a research report, buildings consume about 40% of the world's energy and elevators account for 2–10% of a building's energy consumption. The biggest environmental impacts of Kone's solutions relate to the amount of electricity elevators and escalators use over their lifetime. This underlines the importance of focusing on energy efficient innovations.

Eco-Innovations
Being a pioneer in developing eco-efficient solutions, KONE focuses on energy efficiency since beginning, and in1987 it launched V3F frequency converter for improving energy efficiency of KONE hoisting machines. The quest for energy conservation, since then, led Kone to invent several technologies and in 1996 it launched first machine-room-less elevator, the KONE MonoSpace®, providing up to 70% energy savings compared to conventional technology.

With each passing year, the company has delivered many innovations to end users such as JumpLift, DCS (Destination Control System) KONE EcoMod™ solution, KONE MonoSpace® 500, solar-powered elevator, KONE InnoTrack™ autowalk, KONE Direct Drive an energy-efficient escalator drive, KONE EcoDisc® hoisting machine, KONE UltraRope™ high-rise hoisting technology, and many more technologies besides several A-class energy certifications for its products. Moreover, KONE has achieved A-class energy classifications for KONE MonoSpace® and KONE MiniSpace™ customer references according to the new ISO 25745-2 standard for the energy classification and calculation of elevators.

The KONE I Monospace®, the current machine-room-less volume elevator, is significantly more energy-efficient than preceding technologies. This has been made possible by the completely renewed KONE EcoDisc® hoisting machine, a highly efficient drive, enhanced standby solutions and LED lighting.

Installing an eco-efficient KONE elevator solution by selecting the most energy-efficient options can also help in achieving green building accreditations such as LEED or BREEAM certification.

Top-class energy efficiency Rating
In 2014, KONE further increased the number of energy efficient installations performed globally, especially in Europe and Asia. It is the only elevator company to offer the best VDI 4707 A-class energy efficiency rating for its volume elevator range while also fulfilling safety and accessibility codes.

World-class R&D Wings
Design for Environment is systematically integrated into KONE's R&D process. In developing new elevators, escalators, and automatic building doors, the company focuses on maximizing the positive environmental impacts and minimizing the negative ones throughout the lifecycle of its solutions. This extends from the extraction of raw materials to end-of-life processes such as recycling, waste treatment, and the reuse of recovered materials.

Leader in Sustainability
KONE's leadership in sustainability has been recognized by Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), which has given the company the highest possible score of 100 for its reporting in 2014. CDP has included the company in the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI) for four years running. In addition, Newsweek magazine ranked KONE the world's 12th greenest company in 2014. In the list, KONE is the only company in top 50 representing the elevator and escalator industry.

KONE also makes it to the top 50 for the 5th straight year in Forbes Magazine in "The World's most innovative Companies" category. KONE is the only elevator & escalator company to make it to the prestigious list.