商务礼节美语第147期:节能环保 Go Green(1)

　　公司总裁Tim召集部门经理开会，讨论公司可以采取哪些节能环保的措施。
Tim: Good morning folks, thanks for joining us. In light of the recent economic downturn, we thought we should pow-wow some ways we can conserve¹ energy. This is Henry Peterson, a consultant² with GreenOffices Inc.
Henry: Hi everyone. As Tim mentioned, not only is saving energy good for the environment, it's also a good way to keep costs down...and that's a win-win situation for everyone. I'm sure some of you have suggestions for ways we could become "greener." Anyone?
总裁Tim说，今天召集大家开会，商量如何节省能源开支。参加会议的还有节能专家Henry Peterson. Henry说，节能既环保，又能减少开支，是双赢之举，a win-win situation，办公室节能有哪些措施呢？
Faith: I think we could easily cut down on "vampire³ power." Our computers and other electronic devices actually continue to suck power, even when they are switched off.
H: Good one! The online encyclopedia⁴ Wikipedia claims that "vampire power" or "standby power" is responsible for using as much as 10% of electricity consumption.
Dana: We could unplug the equipment or put in power strips that can completely turn off power.
T: Just imagine...we could save 10 or 15 % on our energy bill just by unplugging our computers!
Faith提议削减vampire power吸血鬼功率，又称standby power，因为即使电脑关机，只要电源不拔，电脑就会继续耗电，Dana建议拔掉电源或是采用可以切断电源的接线板Power strip。
H: And that's just the beginning! You see these lights above us? These use LED bulbs that are 10 times more efficient than the bulbs you are using in the rest of the office.
F: But they're pretty pricey, aren't they?
H: Yes, they cost more, but you'll find that they pay for themselves.
Henry承认，LED灯泡价格确实要贵一些，但是，they pay for themselves非常划算。
D: I've got one that will require a bit of sacrifice. We really don't need to use bottled water for meetings. We could also get rid of paper cups for the water cooler and everyone could use their own mug instead.
F: Ahhh... I love bottled water... but I agree, Dana's idea is certainly more environmentally friendly.
H: Yep. Sometimes going green does require that we change our mindset. It's funny how many of us are very conscientious⁵ at home. We recycle and reuse, but when we get to the office, we sometimes become very wasteful⁶.
Dana建议公司取消瓶装水，不用纸杯子，得到大家的认可。 Henry指出，工作场所节能需要改变思维，change our mindset。

1 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

2 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

3 vampire   

n.吸血鬼

参考例句：

• It wasn't a wife waiting there for him but a blood sucking vampire!家里的不是个老婆，而是个吸人血的妖精！
• Children were afraid to go to sleep at night because of the many legends of vampire.由于听过许多有关吸血鬼的传说，孩子们晚上不敢去睡觉。

4 encyclopedia   

n.百科全书

参考例句：

• The encyclopedia fell to the floor with a thud.那本百科全书砰的一声掉到地上。
• Geoff is a walking encyclopedia.He knows about everything.杰夫是个活百科全书，他什么都懂。

5 conscientious   

adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的

参考例句：

• He is a conscientious man and knows his job.他很认真负责，也很懂行。
• He is very conscientious in the performance of his duties.他非常认真地履行职责。

6 wasteful   

adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的

参考例句：

• It is a shame to be so wasteful.这样浪费太可惜了。
• Duties have been reassigned to avoid wasteful duplication of work.为避免重复劳动浪费资源，任务已经重新分派。