VOA常速英语2008年-'Green' Businesses Reflect New Attitude

By Robert Raffaele
Washington
22 April 2008
 

Many businesses around the world are "going green," combining entrepreneurship with an increasing concern about the health and future of the planet. These businesses aim to provide environmentally safe alternatives to long-established products and services.  VOA's Robert Raffaele introduces us to one "green" businessman in Washington.

Eco-Green Living is an environmentally friendly business tucked away on a quiet street corner in the nation's capital.

Its owner, Keith Ware¹ is a mountain climber who says his appreciation² of the Earth's beauty has inspired him to do his part to save it.

"Green by my definition is looking out for everyone else,” Ware said. 

Ware's store carries a wide range of products, including non-toxic paint, health and beauty aids and home appliances such as a tankless water heater that sells for up to $1,100. 

Ware admits that some of his items are expensive, but he says the long-term savings³ they create are not lost on customers.

He says, "People in general are very, very good about going green. When given a product, and then an environmentally friendly version of the same product, and you tell them that it is environmentally friendly, they usually make the right choice.”

Ware says the growing popularity of eco-friendly products is starting to attract the attention of big business.

"I walked into a trade show one day in Chicago, and of course, it was a green trade show - and the first two companies that hit me are Dow and Dupont . I said they aren't my green companies, but there they were. But they realized there was profit in it, so everybody is going that way," he added.

Ware's biggest concern for the future of green businesses is that the people on the supply side get a fair price for their services. He says that will keep costs down for everyone from retailer⁴ to customer,  ultimately providing hope for a healthier planet.

1 ware   

n.(常用复数)商品，货物

参考例句：

• The shop sells a great variety of porcelain ware.这家店铺出售品种繁多的瓷器。
• Good ware will never want a chapman.好货不须叫卖。

2 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

3 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。

4 retailer   

n.零售商(人)

参考例句：

• What are the retailer requirements?零售商会有哪些要求呢？
• The retailer has assembled a team in Shanghai to examine the question.这家零售商在上海组建了一支团队研究这个问题。