• TOPICS
    • Design
    • Manufacturing
    • Inspection
    • Heat Treating
    • Lubrication
    • Materials
    • The Gear Industry
    • Gears by Type
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Departments
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Subscribe
  • VIDEO
    • Gear Technology TV
      • Ask the Expert Live
      • Revolutions
    • Industry Videos
  • BLOGS
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • NEWS and EVENTS
    • Product News
    • Industry News
    • Events
  • ADVERTISING
    • Brand Awareness
      • Print: Display Advertising
      • Online: Web Banners & Keyword Banners
      • Online: Native Advertising (Sponsored Content)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
    • Response & Lead Generation
      • Online: Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Newsletters
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • Online: Buyers Guide
    • Print Advertising
      • Print: Display Advertising
      • Print: IMTS Showstoppers
      • Print: Buyers Guide
      • Print: Manufacturing sMart
      • Print: Specifications
    • Online Advertising
      • Online: Web Banners & Keyword Banners
      • Online: Native Advertising (Sponsored Content)
      • Online: Buyers Guide
      • Online: Specifications
    • E-mail Advertising
      • E-mail: E-Newsletters
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • E-mail: Specifications
    • Special Promotions
      • Print: IMTS Showstoppers
      • Print: Buyers Guide
      • Print: Manufacturing sMart
  • CONTACT US
  • AGMA
    • Membership
    • Events
    • Education
    • Emerging Technology
    • AGMA Media
    • Standards
Subscribe
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Home » Blogs » Gear Talk With Chuck » What if We Save the World Anyway?

Gear Talk With Chuck
Gear Talk With Chuck RSS FeedRSS

Inspection / The Gear Industry / Testing / Management / Jobs
Charles schultz
Chuck Schultz is a licensed engineer, Gear Technology Technical Editor, and Chief Engineer for Beyta Gear Service. He has written the "Gear Talk with Chuck" blog for Gear Technology since 2014.

What if We Save the World Anyway?

July 5, 2016
Charles D. Schultz
No Comments
In the midst of a heated discussion on the environment fifteen years ago, my son asked a thought provoking question: “What if we saved the world and it really didn’t need saving?” I was reminded of the incident this morning as I waited for my twelve-year-old truck to go through mandatory emissions testing. All six test lanes had at least five cars waiting in line, and many of the drivers were probably irritated at the interruption of their daily routine just to get their vehicle tested. Playing out against the ongoing “climate change” debate, auto emission testing has gone from highly controversial to routine here in Chicagoland. We don’t read angry letters to the editor on the topic anymore and most people are happy the air is noticeably cleaner. Despite all the idling motors at the test site, there was no eye-burning haze present. The test equipment, made in the USA, completes a test in less than five minutes; the biggest delay I encountered was a summer helper employee needing further instructions on how to operate the VIN scanner. Once that bit of training was completed it took only seconds to read and enter the specific test parameters for my truck. First step was verifying the presence of the required sensors and making sure they still work. That completed, the exhaust gasses were measured and, in my case, a certificate of compliance was issued. The EPA rules and regulations have spawned many technological advances. Remember when we engineers supported NASA because its research spun off so many wonderful products? Shouldn’t we do the same for the EPA? A new car has better computers and sensors than the Space Shuttle, thanks to those pesky environmental laws. The only approved builder of test equipment is a U.S. company. The sensors have a strong U.S. heritage. A better environment has created many jobs at a cost the average car buyer can afford. And, as with NASA’s space program, that spin-off technology finds its way into our homes, factories, schools, and hospitals in exciting ways. I appreciate the fact that changing regulations disrupt established industries. If you believe in the free enterprise system you have to accept uncertainty and risk. Change involves risk and so does not changing. If you were a carburetor manufacturer forced to move into electronic fuel injection because of new regulations, what was the real harm to your business?

Recent Comments

Thank you for this - Happy Saint Patrick's...

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Free Gear Technology Subscriptions
Subscribe
Free Gear Technology Subscriptions
Subscribe
FEATURED VIDEO
  • A Look at Helios Gear
March 14, 2019
RECOMMENDED
  • Hardness Testing Gears — Know Your Options for Best Results

    April 25, 2022
    Starrett1.jpg
  • Kapp Niles Examines Intelligent Rolling Grinding for E-mobility

    April 25, 2022
    Opening Image.jpg
  • The New Age of Bronze

    April 25, 2022
    Barton1.jpg
  • Making Gear Grinding Transparent

    May 19, 2022
    Picture6.png
  • LPC Carburizing: The Affordable Alternative to Gas Carburizing

    April 25, 2022
    Nitrex2.jpg
  • Making Gear Grinding Transparent

    May 19, 2022
    Picture6.png
  • LPC Carburizing: The Affordable Alternative to Gas Carburizing

    April 25, 2022
    Nitrex2.jpg
  • Hardness Testing Gears — Know Your Options for Best Results

    April 25, 2022
    Starrett1.jpg
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • AGMA
Powered byAGMA
Copyright © 2022 Gear Technology
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact