EU Switching to Energy-Saving Fluorescent Bulbs
欧盟将改用节能日光灯泡
Watan Chen, David Lee
【新闻关键字】
1. light bulb: n. 灯炮
2. fluorescent :a.发光的、萤光的
3. incandescent :a.炽热的
4. durable :a.经久的、耐用的
5. given :prep. 假如;考虑到
6. mercury :n.水银
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.
欧盟为了节能，正以日光灯泡取代传统灯泡。日光灯泡有较长的使用寿命而且耗费较少的瓦数。
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. 它曾经引起许多的笑话。这次则可能是：禁用一种灯泡需要多少国家？答案是：全部的欧盟国家。
The EU has switched off the manufacture and import of the traditional 100 watt incandescent lightbulb — in use for a hundred and thirty years.
欧盟已经停止传统100瓦白炽灯泡的生产与进口，使用有130年之久。
The ban makes way for long-life energy saving fluorescent bulbs which use four times less wattage.
禁令为长寿命的节能灯泡开路，减少使用四倍的瓦特数。
But the editor in chief of Eco Test says the new bulbs are not as efficient as manufacturers claim.
但是《生态测试》主编表示，新的灯泡并非如制造商声称的这么有效率。
[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."
[《生态测试》主编Juergen Stellpflug]:
他们离制造商所声称耐用程度很远，尤其是就所谓的转换能力而言。当不断地切换开关节能灯具，例如在楼梯间，它可能只能持续使用一年。
He also warned of the dangers involved in their disposal given their mercury content.
他也对在处理过程中，如果有水银内含物的危险提出警告。
【新闻关键字】
7. hazardous waste: n. 有害废弃物
8. phase out: v. 逐步淘汰
9. demise :n.死亡;终止
10. LED(Light Emitting Diode) :n.发光二极管
11. repeal :v.撤销;废除
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."
[《生态测试》主编Juergen Stellpflug ] 因为水银是如此危险，那些灯具应该只能以危险废弃物来处理，但是并没有真的这么做。超过90%的节能灯具，就一直较倒进一般的家庭废弃物中。
Incandescent bulbs will be fully phased out by 2012.
白炽灯泡将彻底在2012年前停用。
The European Commission estimates households could initially save up to 50 euros a year by switching.
欧盟执委会估计，家庭最初可以藉由改用灯泡一年节省高达50欧元。
However, some are already predicting their demise. Klaus Petri of Philips says fluorescent lights are not the future.
然而，有人已经预言了失败结果。飞利浦Klaus Petri表示，日光灯并非未来的趋势。
[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."
[飞利浦德国企业沟通副总Klaus Petri]:
在未来几年，它将会变得愈来愈令人感兴趣，因为使用功率将会上升而价格下降。LED(发光二极管)技术将会变得越来越便宜。光源的未来不是节能灯具，但是到最后，毫无疑问地，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.
美国预定2012年全面停用传统灯泡。一位美国国会众议员从那时就提出自由选择灯泡法案以撤销法令。
So, how many politicians does it take to change a light bulb?
所以，需要多少政治人物来更换一种灯泡？
本新闻影音出处：新唐人电视台英语http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_life/2009-09-02/097612778145.html
更多相关英语学习集结处：
http://www.epochtimes.com/b5/ncid205.htm
