Renewable energy research station

From WikiCover

Announced September 6, 2007, Dow Corning 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.

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.

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 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 degrees Celsius 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.

The pre-built Antarctic station will be disassembled and transported by ship to Antarctica, where it will be re-assembled from November 2007 to February 2008.