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Seneffe, Belgium - Dow Corning (www.dowcorning.com) is sponsoring the
International Polar Foundation’s (IPF) efforts to study climate change and
sustainable materials at the world’s first zero-emission research station, the
Princess Elisabeth Antarctic Station (http://www.antarcticstation.org).
The station is the first polar research station functioning entirely on
renewable energies.The IPF encourages the adoption of innovative solutions that
enable people to respond in a sustainable manner to the challenges associated
with climate change.
“We support the IPF’s mission to understand key environmental and climate
change factors,” said Peter Cartwright, Dow Corning executive director for
environment, health and safety. “The world needs innovative approaches to
address today’s complex environmental challenges.”
The station’s team of researchers will advance understanding of the Earth’s
ecosystem and climate change while testing construction designs aimed at
reducing their environmental impact.
In addition to supporting the Princess Elisabeth Antarctic Station, Dow
Corning, the world’s leading manufacturer of silicon-based materials, was
selected to provide silicone sealant
construction material for the project. This offers the company an
opportunity to further test its products in the most extreme of
environments.
Antarctica presents one of the world's most severe climatic extremes with
temperatures reaching -60° C in addition to heavy snow and high winds.
Dow Corning donated silicone construction materials to the project.
Silicones, by
nature, maintain their natural properties in extreme high and low temperatures
making them a good fit for helping the station reduce its ecological footprint
through energy savings in Antarctica’s fragile environment.
“Research conducted at the Antarctic base is critical to expanding the
world’s understanding of climate change and potential solutions for
construction in hostile environments,” Cartwright explained. “Dow Corning
is honored to play a part in this initiative.”
Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium is the Honorary President of the
International Polar Foundation. The pre-built Antarctic station was
inaugurated in early September at "Tour et Taxis" in Brussels.
After a four-day public display, the station will be disassembled and
transported by ship to Antarctica, where it will be re-assembled from November
2007 to February 2008.
The sponsorship of IPF is the latest of several recent announcements
concerning Dow Corning’s sustainability efforts. In July,
Dow Corning announced it had installed more than 1,000 square meters of
solar panels on the roof and facades of its office and production buildings in
Wiesbaden, Germany.
In May 2007, the company announced the largest expansion in the history of
the polycrystalline silicon industry – a $1 billion investment in manufacturing
capabilities for this critical material that broadens availability of solar
energy. Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation, in which Dow Corning owns
a majority stake, manufactures 30 percent of the world’s total supply of
polycrystalline silicon.
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Click here to discover how silicones are used in construction.
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Learn more about Dow Corning’s approach to sustainability.
About Dow Corning
Dow Corning (www.dowcorning.com) provides
performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000
customers worldwide. A global leader in silicon-based technology and
innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services, Dow Corning is
equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More
than half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States.
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