So we recently posted a blog about a new elevator museum in Long Island. How about a museum inside of an elevator? Located in Manhattan, this museum could possibly one of the most unique places you can visit in New York.

What is New York’s newest museum called? It is simply titled, The Museum. What is in the museum? Not artwork, not fashion, not sports memorabilia, not even old dinosaur bones. The Museum holds bits and pieces of everyday life from around the world. Here are some of the items on display right now;

• Some broken glass from New York City
• A plastic glove from Paradise Valley, Montana
• A hot water coil heater from Kaunus, Lithuania
• The shoe thrown at George W. Bush at the Minister’s Palace in Baghdad
• Driver’s license, cell phone, and comb salvaged from the pacific Ocean

The motto for The Museum is, “A smart man’s garbage is a foolish man’s fortune & vice versa. So who is behind the museum located inside an old freight elevator? Benny and Josh Safdie, along with Alex Kalman, are the founders of The Museum and the indie outlet Red Bucket Films. The Museum is also sponsored by Andy, Bea, and Kate Spade, adding some star power to the unique attraction.

When visiting The Museum, you can call an 800 number to access a free audio guide that will explain each piece. You can enter each object on display’s number and hear a description on the history of it. The Museum opened last week and around 50 people came to check it out. Since The Museum is located inside a freight elevator, only three guests can enter at a time.

The Otis Elevator Company is launching a new residential elevator called the Gen2 Switch. This new eco-friendly elevator eliminates the need for three phase power, can run off solar power, and uses battery technology to allow it to run even in a power outage. With the popularity of residential elevators increasing, the Gen2 should see a large market interested in it.

The Gen2 Switch green residential elevator builds upon the already ground-breaking Gen2 product line. The new residential elevator is easy to install, more sustainable, and safer during power failures or outages.

Simpler: The Gen2 Switch plugs into your basic electrical outlet. Once it is plugged in, the elevator has all the power it needs to run.

Sustainable: Just like the other Otis Gen2 elevators, the Switch uses flat-belts and ReGen drives. This makes the Switch up to 75-percent more energy efficient than other traditional home elevators. The Switch also requires 12 times less power from the power grid, in comparison to the standard Gen2 residential elevator. The system’s single phase technology is capable of drawing renewable power from resources such as solar panels and wind turbines.

Safer: Having a rechargeable battery means never being stuck inside your residential elevator in the event of a power failure or outage. So whether you are in a wheelchair or just bringing up groceries, there is no fear of being stuck inside due to a loss of power.

Many people are installing residential elevators to help make everyday tasks more convenient or to increase mobility for those with a physical limitation. At the same time, people are looking for ways to be more energy efficient and keep their energy bills down. The Gen2 Switch does both by allowing anyone to confidently and independently reach every floor of their home while using far less energy than other residential elevators.

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Celebrities often have elevators in their homes because — well, they don’t own homes — they own mansions. When you own 15,000-plus square foot mansions like Michael Jackson did, it isn’t surprising that there would be an elevator inside. However, with people staying in their homes even in old age and families staying super busy, residential elevators are becoming more and more common.

Many people want to grow old in their homes and want to avoid having to go to assisted living. One of the reasons people leave their homes is they have trouble getting up and down the stairs. Being unable to live independently anymore forces people to leave their homes. By installing a residential elevator, those people will have no problem reaching any area of their home. Their bedroom, bathroom, and other rooms on higher floors will now be available to them at the touch of a button.

Families are getting larger and bigger these days. Picking up the kids from practice, carrying the groceries in, and taking care of the pets can be tasking on your body. With a home elevator, you can easily take the groceries up to the kitchen or bring the laundry down to the basement. The convenience that an elevator in your home provides is enough to make it worth the price tag.

You would think that getting an elevator installed in your home would break the bank, but it is far more inexpensive than you might think. For about the same price of a new car, you can have a residential elevator installed into your home. There are many energy-efficient models and elevators that do not require a machine room. When there is no machine room needed, you will drastically cut down on the installation cost. Pneumatic elevators are a great option for home use. They require no machine room, they are energy efficient, and their cylindrical shape allows them to be installed almost anywhere.

In Los Angeles alone, 93 permits for home elevators were issued in 2012. Also, a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders found that 25 percent of homeowners listed elevators as a desirable or essential feature, up from eight percent in 2001. With the cost not being too high and the benefits being so great, more people are deciding to install elevators in their homes.

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Traditionally, having an elevator in a private home has been known as a luxury item. However, it is now more common to see people purchasing home elevators to revolutionize their homes, and they are used in multi-story homes.

Elevators are no longer just for commercial buildings; many private home owners are purchasing them to help with gaining access to all floors of their home. Elevators are now being used more often for their practical benefits, such as assisting physically challenged people. With the current economic situation in the United States, it will be more common for people to try and enhance their home in ways that can increase comfort and allow them to stay in their homes longer. For someone who is physically incapable of using the stairs anymore, a home elevator will allow them to access every floor and room in their home. A home elevator will also help make things easier for a person’s aid if they should have one in their home. As a sensible choice to ease mobility, there are three main types of home elevators available:

Hydraulic Elevators- Designed for low-level buildings, they use a hydraulic arm and hydraulic fluid to power the elevator cab. They are better built with the construction of the home, as they require a large machine room.

Traction Elevators- Also found in commercial buildings, this system uses steel cables, a counter weight, and a motor to move the elevator cab up and down. Benefits are reduced energy use, and no machine room is needed.

Pneumatic Elevators- Energy efficient and less complex, they are designed specifically for home use. Shaped like a cylinder, pneumatic elevators use a vacuum system to help its passengers travel between floors.

Having a home elevator can be helpful to anyone, even if you do not have a disability. It can help with moving heavy items like furniture between floors or even help reduce injuries on the stairs when carrying heavy items. Many people who are restricted to wheelchairs are finding big benefits of having an elevator in their home. Some families are installing elevators in their homes so elderly family members do not have to be placed in a retirement home.

Many people think the cost of a home elevator would make them too expensive. However, options like the pneumatic elevator make them very affordable. It is the installation and creation of a machine room that can drive the price up. By purchasing a pneumatic or cable driven elevator, you can drastically reduce the price.

Having a home elevator will increase the value of your home, alleviate any problems for someone who can’t use the stairs, and make life easier for everyone. It is a great investment and can help add many years to how long someone can remain in their home. Home elevators are no longer a luxury, they are a necessity.

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One unique aspect of contemporary elevators is the installation process. Because no hoistway needs to be installed, adding a home elevator, such as the Vision 830, is more affordable. Additionally, the acrylic hoistway that comes with the Vision 830 can be placed anywhere around your home. Some of the features of this particular elevator include:

• An integrated, clear acrylic hoistway and self-contained design. This allows the elevator to be placed almost anywhere in your home and reduces the installation costs of creating a hoistway.
• No shaft, pit, or machine room is needed. With a self-contained design, the elevator can be installed into your home on a flat surface.
• Use of a winding drum system. Two air craft cables are used to move the car.
• The ability to hold up to 830 pounds.
• Moving up to 30 feet per minute.
• Making two to five stops along the hoistway. The maximum distance between stops is 40 feet.
• A 14 square foot cab area, with a 52 inch diameter and height of 84 inches. This can be modified with a balcony and flush floor ring.
• Ability to accommodate wheelchairs.
• A panoramic view of the home as you ascend or descent.
• Recessed ceiling light to illuminate the cab.
• An automatic emergency lighting system.
• 230 volt operation.
• A three-inch ramp.
• No pit requirements.

With a contemporary design, the Vision 830 elevator is the pinnacle of practicality. Installation costs and time are significantly less than those for other home elevators. Additionally, your home doesn’t need significant modifications to accommodate this elevator. As panoramic styles become a popular choice for many home and commercial elevators, the Vision 830 gives you this design and the ability to have it installed affordably.