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Buildings Gone Green 绿色建筑－会呼吸的房子

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Did you know that the average building requires huge amounts of energy and water to function, not to mention creating a lot of waste? Buildings in the U.S., for example, account for a shocking 65% of its electricity consumption. The impact of skyscrapers on our environment is intense. Fortunately, “green architecture” brings hope.

你知道一般建筑物需要大量的能源和水才能运作吗？更别提这些建筑物会制造出多少废物了。举例来说，建筑物占全美国电力消耗的65%，非常惊人。摩天大楼对环境有很剧烈的影响，幸好，「绿色建筑」带来了希望。

The term “green architecture” first appeared in the 1990s. Since then, specific standards and goals have been developed by such organizations as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Professor Siian-tang Han of National Taiwan University provides a definition: “Green buildings are any buildings which are built with the least resources and which save the most energy.”

「绿色建筑」一词最初出现于1990年代。自那时起，「美国绿建筑协会」这类组织已发展出特定的标准和目标；而台湾大学教授韩选棠为「绿色建筑」提供了定义：「绿色建筑就是任何使用最少资源建造、并节省最多能源的建筑物。」

The benefits of green architecture are numerous, including cutting running costs, creating a healthy, pleasant working environment, and even elevating the property value. Imagine breathing in fresh air filled with the natural scent of plants while inside a building; natural sunlight spills through the windows, brightening the space, and the temperature remains comfortable.

绿色建筑的益处不胜枚举，包括削减保养费、创造健康舒适的工作环境，甚至可提高房地产价值。想象你在室内呼吸着充满天然植物香气的新鲜空气，阳光透过窗户洒进来，照亮整个空间，而气温仍维持舒适。

Dr. Ken Yeang, a Malaysian architect and writer, is credited with designing the first modern green skyscraper, the IBM Tower in Kuala Lumpur, in 1992. Terraced gardens winding around the circular building provide natural ventilation. Framed openings on the building’s face deflect the sun’s heat. Dr. Yeang integrates plants into his designs because they give off oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide and harmful chemicals.

杨经文博士是马来西亚一位建筑师兼作家，1992年在吉隆坡参与设计第一栋现代绿色摩天大楼：IBM大楼。梯形花园环绕着圆形建筑，提供天然通风，建筑物正面的加框窗口可使阳光转向。杨博士还将植物与其设计融合，因为植物会释放氧气，并吸收二氧化碳和有害的化学物质。

Vocabulary

单词发音

account for（在数量、比例上）占 to explain the reason for

consumption [kənˋsʌmpʃən] n. 消耗

specific [spɪˋsɪfɪk] adj. 特殊的，特定的

scent [sɛnt] n. 气味，香味

(be) credited with 被认为是…的功劳; 把…归于

credit [ˋkrɛdɪt] v. 把……歸於[（+to）]

integrate [ˋɪntə͵gret] v. 成为一体，结合在一起[（+with/into）]

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单词发音

running costs  运转开支（指日常必须的正规支出，如工资、水电、煤气等）

property [ˋprɑpɚtɪ] n. 房产，地产，房地产

terrace [ˋtɛrəs] v. 使成梯形地

wind around 缠在…周围

wind [waɪnd] v. 缠绕; 蜿蜒

ventilation [͵vɛnt!ˋeʃən] n. 通风

deflect [dɪˋflɛkt] v. 偏斜；转向

give off (液体、气体、雾、烟等的)发出或放出  to send forth; emit

课文朗读

课文讲解

The Avax office building in Athens, Greece, was built with mostly recycled, non-polluting materials, and with wood obtained from sustainable sources. Its most impressive feature is its self-regulating shading devices, called “fins.” The way the “fins” rotate is based on the temperature and amount of solar radiation outside. These fins keep the office temperature mild while still letting in the sun’s natural light. The building uses only about half the energy consumed by buildings of the same size in Greece.

位于希腊雅典的艾维克斯办公大楼，大半是以回收、零污染的材料建成，木材也来自永续资源。最显着的特色是自动调节的遮光装置，称为「鳍」，依据户外温度和阳光强弱来转动。这些「鳍」使办公室的温度适中，同时让阳光照射进来。该大楼所使用的能源，仅约希腊相同规模建筑物的一半。

Design engineer Ted Owens built his very own hay bale house in New Mexico, USA. The hay bales, sealed within the exterior house walls, provide excellent insulation. His television, refrigerator, stereo, computer, toaster, lights, water pump – everything – are 100% solar-powered through panels mounted on the roof. When it rains, water gathers into a container and is used for the washing machine, toilet, and gardening hose!

设计师泰德．欧文斯在美国新墨西哥州建造了属于他自己的草捆屋。封在外墙里的草捆提供极佳的绝缘效果。他的电视、冰箱、音响、计算机、烤面包机、灯、抽水机等等，所有东西都是百分之百以屋顶太阳能板来发动。下雨时，雨水集中至容器内，用来洗衣服、冲马桶和浇花。

At EcoVillage of Loudoun County, northern Virginia, everyone shares an ecological vision. Residents bathe in the fresh breeze, eat organic vegetables from the local garden, and can view the beauty of the forests, fields, flowers and wildlife surrounding their energy-saving houses. EcoVillagers step lightly on the earth and enjoy their friendly community.

在北维吉尼亚州劳敦郡的生态村，所有人都有生态保育的远见。居民沐浴在清新微风中，吃着当地菜园栽种的有机蔬菜，还能欣赏节能房屋周围的美丽森林、田野、花朵和野生动物。生态村民轻踩大地，享受友善的小区。

Green architecture is good for the environment, our health and well-being, and it’s even economical. It will eventually be the obvious choice for all building construction in the future. Green is where it’s at!

缘色建筑有益于我们的环境、健康和幸福，甚至还非常经济。未来，它终将成为所有建筑建造的当然选择。因为环保正当道！

−by Amy Gittelson

Vocabulary

单词发音

recycled [riˋsaɪk!d] adj. 回收的

rotate [ˋrotet] v. 旋转，转动

exterior [ɪkˋstɪrɪɚ] adj. 外部的

ecological [͵ɛkəˋlɑdʒɪkəl] adj. 生态（学）的

bathe [beð] v. 使沉浸其中[H][（+in/with）]

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单词发音

Athens [ˋæθɪnz] 雅典（希腊首都）

sustainable [səˋstenəb!] adj. 能长期维持的; 能持续的

shading [ˋʃædɪŋ] n. 遮光，荫蔽

hay [he] n. （做饲料用的）干草

bale [bel] n. 大包，大捆

insulation [͵ɪnsəˋleʃən] n. 隔绝; 〔尤指建筑物的〕绝缘材料

hose [hoz] n. 软管；水龙带

step [stɛp] v. 踩; 走；步行[（+on）]

Reading Questions

1. According to the article, which of the following is true?

A. Dr. Ken Yeang uses plants to help keep the air inside his building fresh.

B. Most buildings use a lot of electricity, but generate little waste.

C. Professor Siian-tang Han developed specific standards and goals for green architecture.

D. The first skyscraper that was considered green was built in the U.S.

2. Why do we need to build more green buildings?

A. Because they prevent sunlight from affecting our offices.

B. Because they are very expensive t purchase.

C. Because they do less damage to our environment.

D. Because they are filled with the natural scent of plants.

3. Which is NOT one of the benefits of Ted Owens’s hay bale house?

A. It conserves energy.

B. It provides green insulation.

C. It saves water.

D. It allows excellent lighting.

4. What is the main purpose of this article?

A. To discuss the development of environmentally-friendly buildings.

B. To encourage the use of recycled, non-polluting materials.

C. To reveal the enormous electricity consumption in the U.S.

D. To instruct how to use plants to decorate office buildings.

Answer