Boon Edam has a proud heritage of producing energy efficient products. For over 100 years, our revolving doors have been helping conserving energy by reducing building energy loss and preventing draughts. Recognising the ever-increasing awareness of environmental issues and energy conservation, Royal Boon Edam has recently introduced Energy Savings Calculation Software. Many people are aware in a vague way that revolving doors reduce draughts, but this software actually quantifies the energy savings and draught infiltration benefits offered by revolving doors compared to other door types.

Energy loss through entrances

Thermal insulation is essential at any building entrance to maintain the desired internal ambient temperature, whether it is keeping the heat in or keeping the heat out. In insulated buildings, 20 to 50 percent of the energy loss occurs through and round windows and doors. This loss of energy must be compensated by either a cooling or heating system, resulting in a considerable energy bill. Boon Edam’s energy savings software provides quantified information about energy efficiency and comfort issues related to entrances, in addition to product-specific advice.

The software

A building-specific analysis models an entrance with a revolving door installation and then compares the same scenario with other door types to predict the energy savings and draught penetration characteristics. The calculation is based on the most decisive building criteria, such as dimensions, orientation, air permeability and required ambient temperature. Official climate data from the most important weather stations is used as a benchmark for the outside weather circumstances. As a conclusion, the results are displayed in kWh per month with a simple payback time calculation based on the local energy costs, investments and maintenance costs.

Similarly, encouraging people to use revolving doors instead of swinging doors (which let out eight times as much heated air), to use two-sided printing whenever possible to reduce waste, turn off lights and computers when they are not in use, and similar personal measures can have a big overall impact if enough people do them.

from 'Going green saves MIT green'