2006年VOA标准英语-Companies Adopt Environment-Friendly Policies t

By Mil Arcega
Washington, DC
06 September 2006
 
watch report Green Business

Many companies are learning they can be both pro-business and pro-environment without hurting the bottom line.   In fact, for some, it's been quite profitable. 

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Being environmentally-friendly is not about global warming or reducing emissions¹.  For some companies it's about giving customers exactly what they want.

Gary Sheffer   
  
General Electric says sales of its energy efficient products such as light bulbs and cleaner locomotive engines topped $10 billion last year.   Gary Sheffer is a spokesman for the multinational² conglomerate³. He says that figure is double from the year before. "We're sold out of our wind products and we're pretty much sold out on some of our most efficient aircraft engines."

Even Wal-Mart has discovered that environmentally smart products sell.  The retailer⁴ is now the world's largest consumer of organically-grown cotton.  

Fred Krup  
  
Fred Krup is with the non-profit group, Environmental Defense⁵, says that companies are becoming more environmentally conscious. "Companies are seeing that increasingly people want more efficient, cleaner products, so the smart companies are looking ahead and seeing there are profits to be made here."

And its not only about selling cleaner products.  Chemical manufacturer Dupont switched to more energy efficient technologies 10 years ago to reduce its plant emissions. It saved more than $2 billion in the process.

 
Mitch Jackson 
  
FedEx ships packages around the world. It also found a way to save money while easing the strain on power grids⁶. FedEx environmental director Mitch Jackson says its airport operations in Oakland, California, run primarily on solar power.  "We will have a clean, renewable supply of power at a consistent price, free from the sun for 30 years."

The greening is also happening in corporate⁷ offices.  The futuristic Hearst Tower in New York is lit entirely⁸ by the sun.  The building's waterfall was designed to cool the lobby.

And over at the new Bank of America building site -- cafeteria scraps⁹ will be converted into methane¹⁰ to supply power to the building.

Experts say the green buildings will save millions of dollars in energy costs every year.

1 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

2 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

3 conglomerate   

n.综合商社，多元化集团公司

参考例句：

• The firm has been taken over by an American conglomerate.该公司已被美国一企业集团接管。
• An American conglomerate holds a major share in the company.一家美国的大联合企业持有该公司的大部分股份。

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。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 grids   

n.格子( grid的名词复数 )；地图上的坐标方格；（输电线路、天然气管道等的）系统网络；（汽车比赛）赛车起跑线

参考例句：

• Typical framed structures are beams, grids, plane and space frames or trusses. 典型构架结构为梁、格栅、平面的和空间的框架或桁架。 来自辞典例句
• The machines deliver trimmed grids for use or stock. 这种机器铸出修整过的板栅，以供使用或储存。 来自辞典例句

7 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

8 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。

9 scraps   

油渣

参考例句：

• Don't litter up the floor with scraps of paper. 不要在地板上乱扔纸屑。
• A patchwork quilt is a good way of using up scraps of material. 做杂拼花布棉被是利用零碎布料的好办法。

10 methane   

n.甲烷，沼气

参考例句：

• The blast was caused by pockets of methane gas that ignited.爆炸是由数袋甲烷气体着火引起的。
• Methane may have extraterrestrial significance.甲烷具有星际意义。