[shimfish]

If we're being nerdy about this then there are other considerations to worry about apart from just not pressing buttons.

For example, if the elevator is going down the passenger weight could increase the speed of descent marginally. This would mean the light indicating the floor number would change quicker than it would have done without the passenger being there. Therefore some authorities will only permit the Sabbath Elevator if it shuts off all indicator lights also.

[tovmeod]

I once heard that because of this one should make an hydraulic elevator, so the passenger weight would not affect the energy used, not sure if this holds true or if it is even practical

[jdiez17]

I don’t think that’s true. Hydraulics are just a way of transferring/multiplying force, like gears or belts (but much more powerful). The amount of weight to be moved will certainly modulate the energy consumption of the motor.