节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2014-03-22
难易度:High
关键字:tile, transparent, generate, tint, PV [photovoltaic], patent-pending
Welcome back.
Today we are looking at new designs for solar panels, and we have a lot more to
learn, so let's continue right now.
(Music).
Solar-powered Buildings of the Future.
Turning windows into solar panels.
New Energy Technologies, Inc. is developing a solar application that won't be
installed on rooftops.
Instead, the first-of-its-kind SolarWindow technology enables see-through
windows to generate electricity by spraying their glass surfaces with the
company's patent-pending electricity-generating coatings.
Amazingly, SolarWindow can generate electricity in low-light conditions and can
even turn indoor, artificial light into electricity!
This product holds great promise for commercial buildings since about 60 percent
of a commercial building's surface is covered with windows.
Turning your home - or business - into one that's solar-powered is an option
that's becoming a lot more attractive these days!
(Chinese).
And now let's see what our teachers are up to.
Thanks, Michelle.
Well, we've learned a lot from this section already, and SolarWindow sounds like
it has a lot of promise.
So let's continue learning about SolarWindow by watching a video.
Earth's population is estimated to top 10 billion by the end of the century,
putting a tremendous strain on our planet's limited energy resources.
Electricity usage in the U.S. has more than doubled in the last three decades,
costing more than $370 billion in 2011 alone.
Almost 40 percent of that electricity was consumed by more than 5 million
power-hungry commercial properties.
To meet the increasing demand, conventional solar companies are battling over
limited rooftop space suitable for solar panels.
But few realize the real opportunity for clean power production lies below the
roofline,
where new technologies are emerging capable of transforming the iconic
skyscraper into a virtual power plant.
More than 60 percent of a skyscraper surface is covered in glass.
New Energy Technologies is developing a novel see-through coating that can be
applied to these glass surfaces, turning them into solar power generators.
SolarWindow is made of ultra-small organic solar cells that combine to form a
series of ultra-thin layers, thinner than human hair, and can generate
electricity from light energy.
Here's how we do it.
We start with an ordinary piece of glass.
We first apply a transparent coating to make the glass surface capable of safely
carrying electricity,
followed by an ultra-thin semi-transparent layer of chemicals capable of
absorbing light energy to create electricity.
That electricity then travels through a series of additional layers through a
series of invisible wires and eventually into lights, appliances, computer
equipment and other fixtures that power modern life.
That was great.
Can you imagine the amount of energy that could be produced if we sprayed
SolarWindow onto the office buildings in Taipei?
Well, you know what, it would be a lot of energy.
There are so many windows here.
And since buildings are getting taller, cities are getting bigger and people are
using more and more electronics,
SolarWindow could become a very popular way for people to generate energy.
And save money.
Well, there are many solar options out there, and more are being tested every
day.
Right now we want to join Steve and Ken to talk about one of the companies we've
learned about today: SolTech.
Then we'll watch a review skit and join Linda for the Editor's Summary.
Yesterday with the mention of IKEA and today with SolTech, there seems to be a
Swedish theme running through this lesson.
You know, it reminded me of a Swedish word I just learned: mangata.
It describes the road-like reflection of the moon on water.
It's a word that has no English equivalent.
Now because there's no corresponding English words for mangata, some people
might say it's untranslatable.
But I wouldn't go that far.
After all, we just described what it means.
It just took a little extra time and a few more words to do it.
One of my favorite difficult-to-translate words is the Hawaiian word panapo'o.
English doesn't have it, and to my knowledge, Chinese doesn't have it either.
But it's really useful.
Panapo'o describes the act of scratching your head to help you remember
something you've forgotten, like your car keys or an English vocabulary word.
Do you ever panapo'o?
Friends, which words in your language have no English equivalent? And how
difficult would it be to explain them to a native English speaker?
Next week we'll introduce you to what many consider one of the most difficult
English words to translate into another language.
(Chinese).
Look! There's something on my rooftop.
What? A Frisbee?
Leaves?
A cat?
No. Solar panels.
You mean panels that collect the sun's energy and convert it into electricity?
That's right.
But solar panels are expensive, and their designs are not appealing.
That was before.
Now solar panels are cheaper and less bulky.
Oh. Really?
Yes. In fact, some panels are very stylish now.
What about your solar panels?
I don't see any flat panels.
That's because my solar solution is made of glass tiles.
They're transparent.
Transparent?
Oh! That's why I can't see them.
How do they work?
Underneath the tiles are absorber modules.
They collect energy from sunlight.
Transparent solar tiles!
What will they think of next?
What's coming next?
Solar cells that they spray on glass.
Solar cells they spray on glass?
Yes. A company is developing solar windows that generate electricity.
Solar power sounds like an attractive option.
Yeah. You should turn your house into a solar-powered home.
Yeah, I should.
Let's go to IKEA and pick up a box or two of panels.
OK.
Oh, by the way, there really is a cat on your roof.
Huh?
Today we find out about two companies that are offering more attractive
solar-power solutions than the past.
Solar panels are considered kind of ugly, but SolTech has made a transparent
tile to fit the traditional tiled roof designs.
They have three different solar systems depending on your need.
And New Energy Technologies has a patent-pending electricity-generating coating
that you spray on your windows.
Thank you, Linda.
Our lesson on solar power has been fascinating.
So thank you for joining us today, and we'll see you next time on Studio
Classroom.
See you then.