4 FAQs about How much energy can be stored in the stairs

Where does the energy go when climbing stairs?

When climbing stairs, you do most of the work dissipating energy into the steps. In contrast, when descending stairs, a fraction of the work is done by gravity.

How much energy does stair climbing consume?

It can also require a noteworthy degree of energy expenditure and recently a number of studies have investigated the energy costs of stair climbing, in part to ascertain the calorie burning value of such exercise. For example, one study calculated the energy cost of ascending stairs one step at a time to be 10.2 kcal min −1.

What is the energy expenditure during stairway ascent?

Estimated rate of energy expenditure during stairway ascent was 8.5±0.1 kcal min −1 during the one step ascent and 9.2±0.1 kcal min −1 during the two step ascent.

Can you save energy by taking the stairs?

You can save energy by taking the stairs. However, that applies only at the times when you'd be using it alone since elevators use about the same amount of electricity whether they are going up empty or full. So if you see an elevator full of people just about to take off, you don't have to feel bad for the environment if you hop on it.

View/Download How much energy can be stored in the stairs [PDF]

PDF version includes complete article with source references. Suitable for printing and offline reading.