章节大纲

  • Sunlight shining through plants, symbolizing the concept of renewable resources.

    Can we use up all of our sunlight?
    ::我们能用光所有的阳光吗?

    No, we have a limitless supply of sunlight. That makes it a renewable resource. Products derived from fossil fuels , like the gasoline we use to drive our cars, are not renewable resources. We will eventually run out of fossil fuels.
    ::不,我们有无限的阳光供应。这使它成为一种可再生资源。化石燃料产生的产品,就像我们开车用的汽油一样,不是可再生资源。我们最终会用光化石燃料。

    Renewable Resources and Alternative Energy Sources
    ::可再生能源和替代能源

    A resource is renewable if it is remade by natural processes at the same rate that humans use it up. Sunlight and wind are renewable resources because they will not be used up ( Figure ). The rising and falling of ocean tides is another example of a resource in unlimited supply. A sustainable resource is a resource that is used in a way that meets the needs of the present without keeping future generations from meeting their needs. People can sustainably harvest wood, cork, and bamboo. Farmers can also grow crops sustainably by not planting the same crop in their soil year after year. Planting the same crop each year can remove nutrients from the soil. This means that wood, cork, bamboo, and crops can be sustainable resources.
    ::一种资源如果由自然过程以人类使用的同样速度再造,则可以可再生。阳光和风是可再生资源,因为它们不会被利用(图 )。海洋潮涨降是无限制供应资源的又一个例子。可持续资源是一种满足当代需要、同时又不使后代无法满足其需要的资源。人们可以可持续地收获木材、软木和竹子。农民也可以通过年复一年地不在土壤中种植同样的作物而可持续地种植作物。每年种植同样的作物可以消除土壤中的养分。这意味着木材、cork、竹子和作物可以成为可持续的资源。

    A wind energy farm with multiple turbines generating electricity against a mountainous backdrop.

    Wind power, a renewable resource, shown here in a modern wind energy farm. The wind is used to turn turbines that generate electricity.
    ::风能是一种可再生资源,在现代风能农场中展示,风能被用来转换发电涡轮机。

    Alternative Energy Sources
    ::替代能源 替代能源

    A is one that cannot be replaced as easily as it is consumed. Fossil fuels are an example of nonrenewable resources. They take millions of years to form naturally, and so they cannot be replaced as fast as they are consumed. To take the place of fossil fuel use, alternative energy resources are being developed. These alternative energy sources often utilize renewable resources. The following are examples of sustainable alternative energy resources:
    ::化石燃料是不可再生资源的一个范例。它们自然形成需要数百万年的时间,因此不能像消费一样快速地被取代。为了取代化石燃料的使用,正在开发替代能源。这些替代能源经常利用可再生资源。以下是可持续替代能源资源的例子:

    • Solar power , which uses solar to turn sunlight into electricity ( Figure ). The electricity can be used to power anything that uses normal coal-generated electricity.
      ::太阳能能利用太阳能把阳光变成电力(图 ) 。 电力可以用来为任何使用正常煤炭发电的电力供电。

    Solar panels installed on a roof, converting sunlight into electricity for sustainable energy.

    These solar panels convert sunlight into electricity.
    ::这些太阳能电池板将阳光转换成电力。

    • Wind power , which uses windmills to transform wind energy into electricity. It is used for less than 1% of the world’s energy needs. But wind energy is growing fast. Every year, 30% more wind energy is used to create electricity.
      ::风能 — — 用风车将风能转化为电力。 风能用于满足不到世界能源需求的1%。 但风能正在快速增长。 每年,风能将增加30 % , 用于发电。
    • Hydropower ( Figure ), which uses the energy of moving to turn turbines (similar to windmills) or water wheels, that create electricity. This form of energy produces no waste or pollution. It is a renewable resource.
      ::水力发电(图),它利用动力转换涡轮机(类似于风车)或水轮发电,这种形式的能源不会产生废物或污染,是一种可再生资源。

    Hydropower plant with water flowing through turbines to generate electricity.

    Hydropower plant.
    ::水力发电厂。

    • Geothermal power , which uses the natural flow of heat from the Earth’s core to produce steam. This steam is used to turn turbines which create electricity.
      ::地球热能利用地球核心热的自然流动来产生蒸汽。 这种蒸汽被用来转换发电的涡轮机。
    • Biomass is the mass of biological organisms . It is usually used to describe the amount of organic matter in a of an . Biomass production involves using organic matter ("biomass") from plants to create electricity. Using corn to make ethanol fuel is an example of biomass generated energy. Biomass is generally renewable.
      ::生物量是生物有机物的质量,通常用来描述有机物在某一生物体中的数量。生物量的生产涉及利用植物的有机物(“生物量”)发电。使用玉米制造乙醇燃料是生物量产生能量的一个例子。生物量一般是可再生的。
    • Tides in the ocean can also turn a turbine to create electricity. This energy can then be stored until needed ( Figure ).
      ::海洋中的潮流也可以使涡轮机产生电力,然后这种能源可以储存到需要时为止(图)。

    Tidal power plant dam on the Rance River in Bretagne, France, surrounded by greenery.

    Dam of the tidal power plant in the Rance River, Bretagne, France
    ::法国布雷塔涅兰斯河潮汐发电厂水坝

    Turning Trash Into Treasure
    ::将垃圾垃圾变成宝藏

    Scientists at the Massachusetts of Technology are turning trash into coal , which can readily be used to heat homes and cook food in developing countries. This coal burns cleaner than that from fossil fuels. It also save a tremendous amount of energy. See for more information.
    ::马萨诸塞州科技科技科学工作者正在将垃圾变成煤炭,而煤炭可以很容易地用于发展中国家家庭取暖和烹饪食品,煤炭比化石燃料更清洁,还能节省大量能源。请查阅更多信息。

    Summary
    ::摘要

    • Renewable resources can be replaced by natural processes as quickly as they are used.
      ::可再生资源可以被自然过程所取代,因为自然过程一旦被使用,就能够尽快被自然过程所取代。
    • Alternative energy sources include wind power, solar power, hydropower, and geothermal power.
      ::替代能源包括风力发电、太阳能发电、水电和地热发电。

    Review
    ::回顾

    1. What is a renewable resource? Give two examples.
      ::什么是可再生资源?举两个例子。
    2. What does sustainable mean?
      ::可持续意味着什么?
    3. What are three ways that renewable resources can be used to generate energy?
      ::可再生资源可以用什么三种方式产生能源?