New York City Subway Escalators Get An Energy-Efficient FaceLift!

New York City’s 169 escalators throughout the subway system are not known for running efficiently. The escalators average around 68 breakdowns or repair calls per year, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority now says it has a small solution.

Thirty five recently installed escalators will start operating at varying speeds as part of a “pilot” program. The escalators, which use infrared motion sensors, will slow down to 15 feet per minute when no one is on them, compared to the normal speed of 100 feet per minute. The escalators will then moderately increase in speed, once a rider steps on.

By replacing old escalators with new ones that use a variable-frequency drive and numerous sensors, officials are hopeful they will save on energy costs by not running the escalators at high speeds. The authority estimates it will save at least $1,800 per escalator per year, as well as reduce the wear and tear on the many mechanical parts in the escalators.

This form of operation has been used widely across the world, particularly in Europe and Asia and airports in Canada. Israel also uses variable-speed escalators, officials said.

The 35 escalators that are part of the experiment include 12 escalators at the 34th Street-Herald Square station on the B, D, F, V, N, R, Q and W lines in Manhattan; 8 escalators, 4 of which have been installed at the Roosevelt Island station on the F line; 5 escalators, 2 of which have been installed at the Jamaica-Van Wyck station on the E line in Queens; and 10 escalators, 6 of which have been installed at the Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer terminus on the E line in Queens.

“These escalators are a very visible example of our commitment to contributing to a greener, more sustainable environment,” said Howard H. Roberts Jr., the president of New York City Transit. “While at rest, these green escalators consume less energy, and are therefore more cost-effective.”

Hey, every little bit, over time makes a huge difference!