Introduction-Energy+Kaisenators

The Energy Kaizenator is a project that was developed as the result of a real problem that was occurring within some newly constructed and some refurbished buildings within Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS). The problem was that some of the buildings, with their new HVAC systems, electrical systems and lighting, were still experiencing very high-energy costs. Cincinnati Public Schools Facilities along with GE Aircraft Engines, and the University of Cincinnati, College of Engineering partnered to determine what might be the reasons for the inefficiencies and resolved to find solutions that could be put in place to immediately make an impact on the energy usage in buildings. Using an audit process developed by GE and the University of Cincinnati and a data analysis tool developed by Toyota (based upon the principle of Kaizens), the team of professional engineers, university graduate students, plant managers and teachers set out to find a solution. The results were astonishing. The energy audit teams were able to identify mechanical and behavioral changes that could lead to significant energy savings for each of the audited buildings. From this process, the Energy Kaizenator project was born.