VOA标准英语2009年-Solar Decathlon Showcases Solar-Powered Ho

By Zulima Palacio
Washington
14 October 2009
 
One of the solar homes at this year's Solar Decathlon in Washington, DC 
On the National Mall in Washington, the 2009 Solar Decathlon has begun, with 20 university-led teams from four countries. Each has built a high tech and high efficiency solar powered home. The competition represents the next generation of clean energy pioneers and entrepreneurs.

Construction continued - frantically¹ - during the opening ceremony.

More than 800 students from the United States, Canada, Spain and Germany are competing.

They came to the U.S. capitol to showcase the latest in green technology and solar energy as part of the US government's 2009 Solar Decathlon.  The contest rewards the most attractive, energy-efficient, solar-powered house built by the students.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu's opening remarks contained a pep talk for students as well a dose of reality on energy consumption.   

"In the United States roughly 40 percent of the energy goes into buildings, either commercial or residential² buildings," he said.  "And just so happens that roughly around the world that fraction is still about the same."

The 20 teams were chosen two years ago through a competitive process.

 
Team Spain's "Black and White House"
"Team Spain" presented its project, the "Black and White House."  The solar panels on the roof tilt³ to follow the sun during the day. They sit on a pyramid that allows easy movement. Professor Giuseppe Adell from Universidad Politecnica de Madrid explains.

"What makes the roof tilt is a pneumatic system with a motor that pulls some cables and that is programmed to turn with the daylight," he explained.

Adell says the vertical⁴ panels on the facade⁵ of the house are also solar receptors which turn manually, according to the sun's location. He says the house can produce enough energy to be self-sufficient.

Cornell University is participating for the third time, with 150 students.  Theirs is the only circular house, inspired by the shape of a silo. Chris Werner is Cornell's team leader.  

 
Chris Werner of Cornell University stands in front of his team's silo-inspired solar home
"The house is entirely⁶ solar powered.  We generate all of our hot water and heating from the solar vacuated tubes that you see behind me right now.  We have 40 General Electric photovoltaic panels on top of our roof so we have all the power we need for the entire house," said Chris Werner, Cornell's team leader.

Werner adds that the students hope the panels will produce more energy than the house needs so they can sell electricity back to the grid⁷.

The Solar Decathlon evaluates ten different elements ranging from architecture, to engineering, comfort and marketability.  The exhibit continues through October 18.

1 frantically   

ad.发狂地, 发疯地

参考例句：

• He dashed frantically across the road. 他疯狂地跑过马路。
• She bid frantically for the old chair. 她发狂地喊出高价要买那把古老的椅子。

2 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

3 tilt   

v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜

参考例句：

• She wore her hat at a tilt over her left eye.她歪戴着帽子遮住左眼。
• The table is at a slight tilt.这张桌子没放平，有点儿歪.

4 vertical   

adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置

参考例句：

• The northern side of the mountain is almost vertical.这座山的北坡几乎是垂直的。
• Vertical air motions are not measured by this system.垂直气流的运动不用这种系统来测量。

5 facade   

n.(建筑物的)正面，临街正面；外表

参考例句：

• The entrance facade consists of a large full height glass door.入口正面有一大型全高度玻璃门。
• If you look carefully,you can see through Bob's facade.如果你仔细观察，你就能看穿鲍勃的外表。

6 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

7 grid   

n.高压输电线路网；地图坐标方格；格栅

参考例句：

• In this application,the carrier is used to encapsulate the grid.在这种情况下，要用载体把格栅密封起来。
• Modern gauges consist of metal foil in the form of a grid.现代应变仪则由网格形式的金属片组成。