60秒科学: 提高能源效率比单纯的节约能源更重要

我们多数人都知道应该控制能源的使用，但我们首先应该知道怎样做才是最好的方式。

Most of us know we should rein¹ in our energy use. But to be successful, it’d help if we knew the best way to do it. So scientists asked more than 500 people, “What’s the most effective thing you can do to conserve² energy?” The results were illuminating³.

More than half the participants focused on conservation by curtailment⁴: switching off the lights, changing thermostat⁵ settings and driving less. Only 12 percent went for efficiency: using compact fluorescent⁶ bulbs, insulating the house or driving a hybrid⁷ car. But scientists say that it’s actually these moves that yield the bigger energy savings⁸. The results appear in the Proceedings⁹ of the National Academy of Sciences.

The study authors think that a big factor is that curta ilment is easier to imagine doing—while efforts to improve efficiency would involve, for example, doing research about new appliances or cars, and spending money up front to buy them.

But if people knew more about the actual energy requirements of their activities versus¹⁰ the savings available through efficiency, they might be spurred to act. To quote physicist¹¹ and energy expert Arthur Rosenfeld: “Energy efficiency is like a Saudi Arabia under our cities.”
 

1 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

2 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

3 illuminating   

a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的

参考例句：

• We didn't find the examples he used particularly illuminating. 我们觉得他采用的那些例证启发性不是特别大。
• I found his talk most illuminating. 我觉得他的话很有启发性。

4 curtailment   

n.缩减，缩短

参考例句：

• The usage based allocation method and the curtailment based allocation method are discuss. 在责任分摊法中，阐述了使用程度分摊法和裁减量分摊法。 来自互联网
• In transaction curtailment study, different transaction curtailment models using different types of curtailment objectives. 在交易裁减的研究中，不同的交易裁减模型采用了不同类型的裁减目标。 来自互联网

5 thermostat   

n.恒温器

参考例句：

• The thermostat is connected by a link to the carburetor.恒温控制器是由一根连杆与汽化器相连的。
• The temperature is controlled by electronic thermostat with high accuracy.电子恒温器，准确性高。

6 fluorescent   

adj.荧光的，发出荧光的

参考例句：

• They observed the deflections of the particles by allowing them to fall on a fluorescent screen.他们让粒子落在荧光屏上以观察他们的偏移。
• This fluorescent lighting certainly gives the food a peculiar color.这萤光灯当然增添了食物特别的色彩。

7 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

8 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

9 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

10 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

11 physicist   

n.物理学家，研究物理学的人

参考例句：

• He is a physicist of the first rank.他是一流的物理学家。
• The successful physicist never puts on airs.这位卓有成就的物理学家从不摆架子。