VOA标准英语2015--企业家找到新方法来解决住房短缺问题

Entrepreneurs Find New Ways to Address Housing Shortages 企业家找到新方法来解决住房短缺问题

Housing shortages affect both developed and developing countries, so entrepreneurs are trying to find new ways to solve the problem.

They're being assisted by 3-D printers, which are rapidly entering all levels of industry, including construction.

Last December in Nanjing, the Chinese 3-D Research Printing Institute opened an exhibition in a house built with elements created by a giant 3-D printer. The machine extrudes¹ layer upon layer of concrete-based material, creating construction elements. That eliminates the need for large construction crews, saving money.

Ma Yih, chief executive of WinSun Engineering, said the three-story house was built in three days, mostly of recycled materials.

“We use urban construction waste, mine tailings and urban solid wastes as raw materials," he said. "We sort them by category, and we transform them into a special printing ink.”

Instead of waste material, architects in Amsterdam are experimenting with a mix of one-quarter plastic microfibers and three-quarters plant-based oil. They say traditional building construction is inefficient² and creates a lot of pollution, while 3-D printing reduces waste and other costs.

Another advantage, said DUS Architects co-founder Hans Vermeulen, is the flexibility³ of 3-D printers.

“Digital fabrication allows us and allows customers to tweak designs into their own personal needs,” he said.

Vermeulen added that 3D-printed houses can easily be taken down and reassembled elsewhere.

In Nigeria, unavailability of cutting-edge technology does not discourage entrepreneurs in the search for innovative⁴ housing solutions.

Out of millions who live in shacks⁵ because traditionally built houses and apartments are too expensive, at least some will be able to save enough for a house that can be built in just seven days.

A company called Tempohousing uses shipping⁶ containers, made of corrugated⁷ fiberboard or steel. Managing partner Dele Ladipo said the company's fast construction attracts customers.

“Our solution, compared to traditional concrete, is about 25 to 30 percent cheaper than if you build the same structure using concrete,” he said.

Container walls are covered with insulating material and panels that hide electrical and plumbing⁸ installations. Steel rods provide a rigid⁹ structure, and roofs are covered by roofing material, but there is no need for bricks or concrete.

Although most of the customers are businesses and hotels, Ladipo said private clients are showing interest.

“The African mentality¹⁰ is changing a little bit," he said. "The cost of housing, cost of land, is so much now that everyone is looking for an alternative option.”

As traditionally built homes are still beyond reach for many, experts say only alternative building methods can hope to ease the enormous housing shortages in most of the world’s developing countries.

1 extrudes   

v.挤压出( extrude的第三人称单数 )；挤压成；突出；伸出

参考例句：

• A snail extrudes its horns. 一只蜗牛伸出它的触角。 来自辞典例句

2 inefficient   

adj.效率低的，无效的

参考例句：

• The inefficient operation cost the firm a lot of money.低效率的运作使该公司损失了许多钱。
• Their communication systems are inefficient in the extreme.他们的通讯系统效率非常差。

3 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

4 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

5 shacks   

n.窝棚，简陋的小屋( shack的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They live in shacks which they made out of wood. 他们住在用木头搭成的简陋的小屋里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Most people in Port au-Prince live in tin shacks. 太子港的大多数居民居住在铁皮棚里。 来自互联网

6 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

7 corrugated   

adj.波纹的；缩成皱纹的；波纹面的；波纹状的v.（使某物）起皱褶(corrugate的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• a corrugated iron roof 波纹铁屋顶
• His brow corrugated with the effort of thinking. 他皱着眉头用心地思考。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 plumbing   

n.水管装置；水暖工的工作；管道工程v.用铅锤测量（plumb的现在分词）；探究

参考例句：

• She spent her life plumbing the mysteries of the human psyche. 她毕生探索人类心灵的奥秘。
• They're going to have to put in new plumbing. 他们将需要安装新的水管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 rigid   

adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的

参考例句：

• She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
• The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。

10 mentality   

n.心理，思想，脑力

参考例句：

• He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
• Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。