In the more than 40 years that we have celebrated Earth Day, a lot of progress has been made around the globe in limiting pollution, waste, and reducing energy consumption. Government and industry cooperation has led to technical breakthroughs that improve our quality of life and reduce our environmental footprint, with the ultimate goal of making the best possible use of natural and renewable resources. While much work remains to be done, we can point to some tangible progress.
For example, the solar energy industry has offered homeowners an alternative to dirtier sources of energy while contributing to the power grid. The automotive industry has also continually pushed the technological envelope by producing more fuel efficient vehicles, including electric and hybrid options.
In developing these new technologies, manufacturers of materials, components, and final assemblies must consider a great deal of testing. For example, in increasing vehicle fuel efficiency, auto manufacturers have reduced weight where possible. Materials have been thinned and mechanical assemblies modified. Physical testing of new components, including force and torque measurement, comes into play. For the solar industry, peel, tensile, bend, and many other tests are important in guaranteeing the performance of solar panels and related equipment.
As far as our products are concerned, “green” has been a natural outcome of our efficient designs. While some other instruments guzzle energy via large battery packs and power-hungry electronic designs, Mark-10 products sip energy. In recent years, we’ve stopped printing user’s manuals and reduced the printing of catalogs. We’ve invested heavily in making our website as chock-full of information as possible, so that anyone can access information with reduced impact to our forests.
The values represented by Earth Day should be recognized not just one day a year, but each and every day. With a focus on efficient engineering and the ability to satisfy many testing applications in green industries, Mark-10 is doing its small part in contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable planet.
