Who says you have to pay for all your conservation investments? “Energy service contractors” will pay for retrofitting(翻新改造)in return for a share of the client's annual utility-bill savings. In Beijing. Shenwu Thermal Energy Technology Co. specializes in retrofitting China's steel furnaces. Shenwu puts up the initial investment to install a heat exchanger that preheats the air going into the furnace, slashing the client's fuel costs. Shenwu pockets a cut of those savings, so both Shenwu and the client profit.
If saving energy is so easy and profitable, why isn't everyone doing it? It has do with psychology and a lack of information. Most of us tend to look at today's price tag more than tomorrow's potential saving. That holds double for the landlord or developer, who won't actually see a penny of the savings his investment in better insulation or a better heating system might generate. In many people's minds, conservation is still associated with self-denial. Many environmentalists still push that view.
Smart governments can help push the market in the right direction. The EU's 1994 law on labeling was such a success that it extended the same idea to entire buildings last year. To boost the market value of efficiency, all new buildings are required to have an “energy pass” detailing power and heating consumption. Countries like Japan and Germany have successively tightened building codes, requiring an increase in insulation levels but leaving it up to builders to decide how to meet them.
The most powerful incentives, of course, will come from the market itself. Over the past year, sky-high fuel prices have focused minds on efficiency like never before. Ever-increasing pressure to cut costs has finally forced more companies to do some math on their energy use.
Will it be enough? With global demand and emissions rising so fast, we may not have any choice but to try. Efficient technology is here now, proven and cheap. Compared with all other options, it's the biggest, easiest and most profitable bang for the buck.
1. What is said to be best way to conserve energy nowadays?
A) Raising efficiency. B) Cutting unnecessary costs……
C) Finding alternative resources. D) Sacrificing some personal comforts.
2. What does the European Union plan to do?
A) Diversify energy supply. B) Cut energy consumption.
C) Reduce carbon emissions. D) Raise production Raise production efficiency.
3. If you add enough insulation to your house, you may be able to _____________.
A) improve your work environment B) cut your utility bills by half
C) get rid of air-conditioners D) enjoy much better health
4. How much of the power consumed by incandescent bulbs is converted into light?
A) A small portion. B) Some 40 percent. C) Almost half. D) 75 to 80 percent.
5. Some countries have tried to jump-start the market of heat pumps by __________.
A)upgrading the equipment B)encouraging investments C) implementing high-tech D)providing subsidies
6. German chemicals giant BASF saves ￡200 million a year by ___________.
A) recycling heat and energy B) setting up factories in China
C) using the newest technology D) reducing the CO2 emissions of its plants
7. Global residential power consumption can be cut by 43 percent if ___________.
A) we increase the insulation of walls and water pipes
B) We choose simpler models of electrical appliances
C) We cut down on the use of refrigerators and other white goods
D) We choose the most efficient models of refrigerators and other white goods
8. Energy service contractors profit by taking a part of clients____________.
9. Many environmentalists maintain the view that conservation has much to do with _____.
10. The strongest incentives for energy conservation will derive from __________.
答案
1. A) raising efficiency
2. B) cut energy consumption
3. C) get rid of air-conditioners
4. A) a small portion
5. D) providing subsidies
6. A) recycling heat and energy
7. D) we choose the most efficient models of refrigerators and other white goods
8. utility-billing savings
9. self-denial
10. the market