VOA常速英语2015--数据服务器可以给家庭供暖

Data Servers Could Heat Private Homes 数据服务器可以给家庭供暖

As every computer owner knows, when their machines run a complex program they get pretty hot. In fact, cooling the processors can be expensive, especially when you're dealing² with huge banks of computer servers. But what if that energy could heat private homes?  A Dutch energy firm aims to do just that.

Data centers of large Internet firms, such as Google, Apple, Microsoft and others, contain thousands of computer servers. As they process information they generate enormous amounts of heat requiring cooling towers that dissipate it into the atmosphere.

像谷歌、苹果、微软等大型互联网公司的数据中心都有数千台电脑服务器，这些服务器处理信息时会产生大量的热，需要冷却塔来将热量散发到空气中。

A Dutch firm thinks paying for electricity to run the servers and then paying again to cool them is a waste of energy.

一家荷兰公司认为花钱让服务器运转然后还要花钱来冷却服务器是在浪费能量。

Boaz Leupe, CEO of the start-up Nerdalize, says it’s actually quite simple.

创业公司Nerdalize的CEO博阿斯·卢皮：

"We don't actually have to build the data center, which saves a lot of costs in infrastructure³ and we don't have the cooling overhead, plus that you have the environmental benefit, that the kilowatt⁴ hour you are using is used twice, once to heat the home and once to compute¹ the clients task without the cooling overhead," says Leupe.

“我们事实上不需要建造数据中心，这能省掉大笔的基础设施费用，我们也不需要制冷开销，这样就产生了环境效益，你所使用的电力被使用了两次，一次用来加热房屋，一次用来计算客户任务，无需冷却费用。”

The company developed what it calls an e-Radiator, a computer server that also works as an alternative heating source. Leupe says that five Dutch homeowners are experimentally using them in their homes.

这就是e散热器，这种电脑服务器还能用作替代热源。目前有5户荷兰家庭在家中实验这种设备。

“We reimburse⁵ the electricity the server uses, and that we can do because of the computer clients on the other side, and, in that way, home owners actually get heating for free, and computer users don't have to pay for the overhead of the data center,” says Leupe.

“我们报销用户所用的电力费用，我们能这么做，是因为一方面有计算机客户，这样房主就可以免费用热，计算机用户无需支付数据中心的开销。”

One of the participants in the year-long experiment, Jan Visser, says the amount of heat produced by e-Radiator depends on the work being done by the server’s processors so it cannot be used as the primary source. But he is ready to try it.

简·维瑟尔也参加了这个为期一年的实验，他说e散热器释放的热量多少取决于服务器处理器的工作量，所以不能用作主要的热源。不过他说自己准备尝试下。

“If it gives good enough warmth, you can use less of your existing central heating, and there is the chance for a home owner to pay less bills.”

“如果能产生足够好的热，就可以少用现有的中央供暖，这样房主就可以少支付暖费。”

Nerdalize says e-Radiators generate temperature of up to 55 degrees Celsius⁶ and could save up to $440 in annual heating costs.

Nerdalize称e散热器能产生高达55摄氏度的热，每年可以节省440美元的暖费。

1 compute   

v./n.计算，估计

参考例句：

• I compute my losses at 500 dollars.我估计我的损失有五百元。
• The losses caused by the floods were beyond compute.洪水造成的损失难以估量。

2 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 kilowatt   

n.千瓦

参考例句：

• They pay thirty fen per kilowatt hour.他们每度电付三角钱。
• The watt is a small unit of power so that we use the kilowatt instead.瓦特是小功率的单位，因此我们用千瓦代之。

5 reimburse   

v.补偿，付还

参考例句：

• We'll reimburse you for your travelling expenses.我们将付还你旅费。
• The funds are supposed to reimburse policyholders in the event of insurer failure.这项基金将在保险公司不能偿付的情况下对投保人进行赔付。

6 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。