| In the wake of rising energy costs and in light of the | | | | farms generate between 17 and 39 times as much |
| negative impacts gas, oil and other traditional energy | | | | power as they consume, as compared to 16 times for |
| sources that are wreaking on the environment, the | | | | nuclear plants and 11 times for coal plants." As such, |
| move toward environmentally friendly energy | | | | more overall energy is produced with less impact on |
| production is a current trend that appears here to stay. | | | | the environment. |
| According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy | | | | Technology from a wide spectrum of industries is |
| Information Administration, "finding, producing, moving, | | | | helping to make this eco-friendly transition a viable one. |
| and using [petroleum products] can cause problems for | | | | One of those industries is producers of rubber molding. |
| our environment like air and water pollution." In | | | | While the connection might seem dubious, wind power |
| particular:o Exploring and drilling for oil may disturb land | | | | plants' bearing systems are made from |
| and ocean habitats.o If oil is spilled into rivers or oceans, | | | | corrosion-proof, flexible and durable rubber. Because |
| it can harm wildlife.o When petroleum products are | | | | rubber molding bearings make for better vibration |
| burned as fuel, they give off carbon dioxide, a | | | | damping, wind energy becomes more cost-effective |
| greenhouse gas that is linked with global warming.o | | | | and environmentally friendly. |
| The use of petroleum products also gives off | | | | World leaders in rubber molding and rubber-to-metal |
| pollutants - carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, | | | | bonding have devoted their careers to reducing and |
| particulate matter, and unburned hydrocarbons - that | | | | isolating both vibration and noise in a wide array of |
| help form air pollution. | | | | industrial applications. By absorbing and isolating |
| And those negative impacts are just the tip of the | | | | vibrations, by providing noise control and protection, and |
| iceberg. Fortunately, alternative forms of energy are | | | | by withstanding even the most harsh conditions, the |
| currently being explored. One of those alternatives is | | | | Vibro-Insulator line of rubber-to-metal bonded parts is |
| the renewable source of wind energy. The American | | | | paving the way in renewable energy sources like wind |
| Wind Energy Association estimates that:o The amount | | | | energy. |
| of "wind energy produced worldwide is 65,000,000,000 | | | | These vibration control parts come in a variety of |
| kWh per year." That's "enough power for 6 million U.S. | | | | styles and sizes in order to handle most vibration |
| homes."o The amount of "wind energy produced in the | | | | isolation problems, including standing up to the wind, |
| U.S. is 16,000,000,000 kWh per year." That's "enough | | | | weather and salt conditions windmills are put through. |
| power for 1.6 million homes."o The "potential U.S. wind | | | | Rubber Vibro-Insulators are produced with either |
| energy production by 2020" should reach levels that | | | | natural rubber or neoprene elastomers, depending on |
| will provide "power for 25 million homes yearly." | | | | the application. Both are resistant to oil and have |
| Why is the move toward wind energy such an | | | | maximum operating temperatures of 150 degrees |
| important one? A study of Midwestern wind farms by | | | | Fahrenheit and 180 degrees Fahrenheit respectively. |
| the University of Wisconsin revealed that "wind power | | | | |