EU Switching to Energy-Saving Fluorescent Bulbs

歐盟將改用節能日光燈泡

Watan Chen, David Lee

【新聞關鍵字】

1. light bulb: n. 燈炮

2. fluorescent :a.發光的、螢光的

3. incandescent :a.熾熱的

4. durable :a.經久的、耐用的

5. given :prep. 假如;考慮到

6. mercury :n.水銀

The European Union is replacing traditional light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs, to save energy. The fluorescent bulbs have a longer life and use less wattage.

歐盟為了節能，正以日光燈泡取代傳統燈泡。日光燈泡有較長的使用壽命而且耗費較少的瓦數。

It’s sparked many a joke — this time it could be: how many nations does it take to BAN a lightbulb? Answer: All of the European Union. 它曾經引起許多的笑話。這次則可能是：禁用一種燈泡需要多少國家？答案是：全部的歐盟國家。

The EU has switched off the manufacture and import of the traditional 100 watt incandescent lightbulb — in use for a hundred and thirty years.

歐盟已經停止傳統100瓦白熾燈泡的生產與進口，使用有130年之久。

The ban makes way for long-life energy saving fluorescent bulbs which use four times less wattage.

禁令為長壽命的節能燈泡開路，減少使用四倍的瓦特數。

But the editor in chief of Eco Test says the new bulbs are not as efficient as manufacturers claim.

但是《生態測試》主編表示，新的燈泡並非如製造商聲稱的這麼有效率。

[Juergen Stellpflug, Editor-in-Chief, “Oeko-Test"]:

“They are nowhere near as durable as claimed by the makers, especially as far as the so called switching capacity is concerned. When an energy saving lamp is constantly switched on and off, for example in the staircase, it might

only last for one year."

[《生態測試》主編Juergen Stellpflug]:

他們離製造商所聲稱耐用程度很遠，尤其是就所謂的轉換能力而言。當不斷地切換開關節能燈具，例如在樓梯間，它可能只能持續使用一年。

He also warned of the dangers involved in their disposal given their mercury content.

他也對在處理過程中，如果有水銀內含物的危險提出警告。

【新聞關鍵字】

7. hazardous waste: n. 有害廢棄物

8. phase out: v. 逐步淘汰

9. demise :n.死亡;終止

10. LED(Light Emitting Diode) :n.發光二極管

11. repeal :v.撤銷;廢除

12. politician: n. 政治人物

[Juergen Stellpflug, Editor-in-Chief, “Oeko-Test"]:

“Because mercury is so dangerous, those lamps should be disposed off as hazardous waste only, but that is not really happening. More than 90 percent of energy saving lamps are just being dumped into the regular household waste."

[《生態測試》主編Juergen Stellpflug ] 因為水銀是如此危險，那些燈具應該只能以危險廢棄物來處理，但是並沒有真的這麼做。超過90%的節能燈具，就一直較倒進一般的家庭廢棄物中。

Incandescent bulbs will be fully phased out by 2012.

白熾燈泡將徹底在2012年前停用。

The European Commission estimates households could initially save up to 50 euros a year by switching.

歐盟執委會估計，家庭最初可以藉由改用燈泡一年節省高達50歐元。

However, some are already predicting their demise. Klaus Petri of Philips says fluorescent lights are not the future.

然而，有人已經預言了失敗結果。飛利浦Klaus Petri表示，日光燈並非未來的趨勢。

[Klaus, Petri, Vice-Head, Philips Germany Corporate Communications]:

“It will become more and more interesting in the next couple of years because the power will go up and the prices will come down. LED-technology will become cheaper and cheaper. The future of light is not the energy saving lamp. But in the long run, it will be LED, surely."

[飛利浦德國企業溝通副總Klaus Petri]:

在未來幾年，它將會變得愈來愈令人感興趣，因為使用功率將會上升而價格下降。LED(發光二極管)技術將會變得越來越便宜。光源的未來不是節能燈具，但是到最後，毫無疑問地，就是LED。

The United States is phasing traditional bulbs out in 2012. One U.S. Congress representative has since introduced the Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act to repeal the legislation.

美國預定2012年全面停用傳統燈泡。一位美國國會眾議員從那時就提出自由選擇燈泡法案以撤銷法令。

So, how many politicians does it take to change a light bulb?

所以，需要多少政治人物來更換一種燈泡？

本新聞影音出處：新唐人電視台英語http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_life/2009-09-02/097612778145.html

更多相關英語學習集結處：

http://www.epochtimes.com/b5/ncid205.htm