VOA标准英语2014--新实验室测试节能技术

 

New Lab to Test Energy-Saving Technologies 新实验室测试节能技术

Most of the electrical energy in the U.S. is consumed by buildings and the building sector¹ has the fastest growing rate, but up to now the country did not have a facility for comprehensive testing of new technologies that aim to make buildings more energy efficient. That has changed with Thursday’s opening of a cutting edge laboratory, in California, for evaluating the efficiency of new building methods and materials.

In many buildings, windows and walls are poorly insulated, air conditioning and heating systems are inefficient² and lighting³ is inadequate⁴. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings account for 36 percent of the nation's total energy use and create 30 percent of its greenhouse gasses.

Technologies for lowering those numbers exist, but their effectiveness is hard to measure because the process requires real-life conditions.

In addition to testing each element individually, it's important to assess how well they work together, says the executive manager of the Department of Energy’s new Flexlab, Cindy Regnier.

She spoke⁵ via Skype.

“We're looking at integrated systems, so instead of looking at just components⁶, like air conditioning units, we're looking at the integration⁷, of lighting systems with windows and shading, as an example," said Regnier.

Flexlab has four test beds where scientists can compare the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of different methods. One of the test beds can be rotated 270 degrees to study technologies under different solar orientations⁸.

Cameras aimed at windows and walls are helping⁹ scientists evaluate the energy efficiency of new materials.

Regnier says the work done at Flexlab can save billions of dollars.

“Good integrated design in buildings can achieve as much as 50% energy savings¹⁰ over regular energy use. That's true of the existing buildings as well as new construction," she said.

Flexlab will work with all groups interested in improving energy efficiency - from architects and builders, designers and manufacturers of new materials, to building owners and research sponsors.

Another important factor will be occupant comfort and acceptance, so certain tests will involve people spending time in the facility.

“One of the tests that we currently have going on with Webcor and Genentech will have occupants come into the space and work in the space for a couple of weeks so that they can test the technologies and understand how they perform. It's really important for the kind of work that we do," said Regnier.

Regnier says the tests conducted at Flexlab will provide a preview of a building's energy use, before it's built - saving time, money... and energy.

1 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

2 inefficient   

adj.效率低的，无效的

参考例句：

• The inefficient operation cost the firm a lot of money.低效率的运作使该公司损失了许多钱。
• Their communication systems are inefficient in the extreme.他们的通讯系统效率非常差。

3 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

4 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

7 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

8 orientations   

n.方向( orientation的名词复数 )；定位；（任职等前的）培训；环境判定

参考例句：

• Welfare comparisons are also hindered by differences in orientations among economic systems. 经济制度之间倾向性的差别也会妨碍福利的比较。 来自辞典例句
• Their different value orientations led to different results in literary creation. 价值取向的分野亦导致了不同的创作局面。 来自互联网

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

10 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。