International experts meeting in Australia say global carbon emissions (排放) can be reduced by more than 50 percent through simple energy saving measures. People at a conference in Australia, which increasingly relies on coal for power, say that reducing power consumption is an affordable way to both cut energy costs and reduce pollution.
While many nations turn to cheap and dirty energy sources, such as coal, to meet their increasing energy needs, analysts in Australia say the best way to meet those needs is to improve energy efficiency.
A range of simple solutions include using energy-efficient homes, household appliances and lighting, and driving electric cars. Encouraging homeowners and office workers to switch off their televisions and puters at the end of the day is also seen as an effective way to save electricity.
Grayson Heffner, from the Paris-based International Energy Agency, says reducing consumption could greatly cut global carbon emissions. He calls efficiency strategies (策略) the “soft giant” of clean energy.
“We forecast that energy efficiency will deliver something like three-quarters of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions over the next 20 years. So in the short term energy efficiency is the main way that we reduce greenhouse gas emissions but oftentimes it is not so importantly stressed in the discussions,” said Heffner.
Energy experts working in China say the government is making significant cuts in power usage.
Wan Xingwang, a Beijing-based representative of the Energy Foundation, a U.S. non-government organization, says the results have been impressive.
“In the past five years China achieved about 19.1 percent of energy reduction of its GDP. That translates to something like more than 600 million tons of coal savings,” said Wan Xingwang.
While most nations have some sort of government-sponsored energy efficiency programs, energy analysts say initiatives (主动性) by individuals and panies can also help cut demand.
Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, a non-profit group based in Washington, says other developing nations are recognizing the benefits of cutting power consumption and taking action.
【小题1】To increase their energy supplies, many nations .A．turn to new energyB．turn to cheap energyC．develop solar energyD．introduce clean energy【小题2】Which of the following cannot help to reduce energy consumption effectively?A．Using electronic products in small size.B．Using more electric cars.C．Turning off puters after work.D．Building energy-efficient houses.【小题3】What can we learn from what Grayson Heffner said?A．75% of the greenhouse gas emissions can easily be cut in the next 20 years.B．Ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should be discussed.C．Using clean energy is the strategy to cut global carbon emissions.D．The key to reducing greenhouse gases in the short term is to improve energy efficiency.【小题4】According to the last two paragraphs, which of the following statements is true?A．The programs reducing energy consumption shouldn’t be sponsored by individuals and panies.B．All nations have government-sponsored energy efficiency programs.C．It is time that all nations should bine their efforts to save energy.D．Some developing nations are taking action to cut power consumption.B
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(答案→)B
解析：本文讲述了在环境保护中的一个作用的方法就是提高资源的利用效率，更为高效地使用现有资源。
【小题1】B 细节题。根据文章第二段While many nations turn to cheap and dirty energy sources, such as coal, to meet their increasing energy needs可知B项正确。
【小题2】A 细节题。根据文章第三段A range of simple solutions include using energy-efficient homes, household appliances and lighting, and driving electric cars. Encouraging homeowners and office workers to switch off their televisions and puters at the end of the day可知BCD3项都是正确的好方法，A项没有提及。
【小题3】D 推理题。根据文章第四段Grayson Heffner, from the Paris-based International Energy Agency, says reducing consumption could greatly cut global carbon emissions. He calls efficiency strategies (策略) the “soft giant” of clean energy.可知他是支持efficiency strategies也就是高效地利用资源。故D正确。
【小题4】D 细节题。根据文章最后一句other developing nations are recognizing the benefits of cutting power consumption and taking action.可知很多发展中国家也意识到这个问题了，故D正确。