University of Wisconsin Students Conduct Energy Assessment at Ozinga’s Oak Creek Plant

Whether concrete, aggregates, or energy, Ozinga is always looking for new processes and products to help increase our sustainability efforts. We’re committed to making a positive impact on individuals, their families and the community for generations.

That’s why we recently partnered with the Department of Energy’s Industrial Assessment Center to welcome a group of engineering students from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee to our Oak Creek, WI plant.

Most of the masters and graduate-level students are currently majoring in various types of engineering disciplines. The IAC provides the students with guidelines and focus areas to help them translate their classroom knowledge into assessment practices and formulate actionable insights for the companies they’re assessing.

Along with reps from We Energies and Focus on Energy, the IAC students conducted a thorough inspection, examining our 5,000-square-foot plant to identify possible energy-saving opportunities. They measured air flow to estimate heat loss during colder months and installed occupancy sensors to determine the necessity for motion-activated or LED lights in under-utilized areas of the plant.

In addition, students also inspected boilers, water tanks and air compressors to gauge how well they’re operating and if repairs/additional insulation would improve overall efficiency.

Once all the data is collected, the students will create a comprehensive report to help us learn how to save energy, minimize waste and improve productivity.

The energy assessment, sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Better Plants program, could net 10-15% in energy savings.

View a video about the energy assessment below.