Level 3 Reading 7B

Ch.14 Reading 7B

第14章 阅读7B

CITY OF THE FUTURE? To appreciate the audacity of Dubai, you could start by going skiing. The ski resort, located inside one of the city's shopping malls, looks from the outside like a silver spaceship. You put on a thick coat, pull on your gloves—and then marvel at what strong air-conditioning can do. At the exit, you can buy a souvenir T-shirt. A cartoon thermometer in Celsius announces: "I went from +50 to minus 8!" Indoor skiing in the desert has become a symbol of Dubai's status as a wealthy, modern metropolis. Originally a small fishing village, Dubai's fortunes changed forever with the discovery of oil in the 1960s. Since then, it has evolved to become the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, with over three million residents, huge shopping malls, and a hundred high-rise towers. But the rapid growth has come at a price. To power its cars and air-conditioning, the city has produced large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuels. By 2006, Dubai had one of the largest ecological footprints in the world. But now it is making some big changes. To reduce its dependence on cars and lower its emissions, Dubai has invested in solar energy, green buildings, and a comprehensive public transportation system. Gleaming driverless trains now run beside the main roads. In addition, all new buildings must meet strict energy regulations. Smart lighting and cooling systems must switch off when no people are present in a room. New buildings must also use solar panels for water heating. "The leadership has recognized that the growth of the economy is not sustainable without taking action on emissions," says Tanzeed Alam, a climate and energy specialist. The most striking development can be found where the city's suburbs meet the desert. Unlike much of Dubai, the Sustainable City to the south feels more like a close-knit village community. About five hundred low-rise houses are distributed along attractive, tree-lined streets. They all face north, away from direct sunlight, and are close together to provide natural shade. Each building has reflective windows and wall paint, which reduce the heat absorbed from the sun. Rooftop solar panels and energy-saving lights contribute to the community's energy efficiency. As a result, residents of the Sustainable City now consume 50 percent less energy than people living in other parts of Dubai. A decade ago, the idea of a fully sustainable community was thought to be unrealistic. But times have changed, says Faris Saeed, one of the creators of the Sustainable City. So, too, have prices. The cost of living in the Sustainable City is similar to some of Dubai's other neighborhoods. "It's a myth that sustainable has to be more expensive," Saeed says. Dubai's leaders hope the Sustainable City will become a model for the future. By 2050, the government intends to obtain 75 percent of the city's energy from renewable sources—mainly solar. It also wants to have the smallest ecological footprint in the world. The plan is audacious. But if successful, even guilt-free skiing in the desert could become an environmentally sustainable reality.

未来的城市？ 要欣赏迪拜的大胆，你可以从滑雪开始。 这个滑雪胜地位于该市的一个购物中心内，从外面看就像一艘银色的宇宙飞船。 你穿上厚外套，戴上手套，然后惊叹于强大的空调能做什么。 在出口处，你可以买一件纪念T恤。 沙漠中的室内滑雪已成为迪拜作为富裕现代化大都市地位的象征。 迪拜最初是一个小渔村，但随着20世纪60年代石油的发现，迪拜的命运永远改变了。 从那时起，它已经发展成为阿拉伯联合酋长国最大的城市， 拥有300多万居民、巨大的购物中心和100座高层建筑。 但快速增长是有代价的。 为了给汽车和空调提供动力，这座城市从化石燃料中产生了大量的二氧化碳。 到2006年，迪拜已经成为世界上最大的生态足迹之一。 但现在它正在做出一些重大改变。 为了减少对汽车的依赖并降低排放，迪拜投资了太阳能， 绿色建筑和综合公共交通系统。 闪闪发光的无人驾驶列车现在在主干道旁行驶。 此外，所有新建筑都必须符合严格的能源法规。 当房间里没有人时，智能照明和制冷系统必须关闭。 新建筑还必须使用太阳能电池板供暖。 “领导层已经认识到，如果不采取行动减少排放，经济增长是不可持续的。” 气候和能源专家Tanzeed Alam说。 最引人注目的发展可以在城市郊区与沙漠的交汇处找到。 与迪拜的大部分地区不同，南部的可持续城市感觉更像是一个紧密团结的村庄社区。 大约有500栋低层住宅分布在绿树成荫的迷人街道上。 它们都朝北，远离阳光直射，靠得很近，提供自然阴凉。 每栋建筑都有反光窗和墙漆，可以减少太阳吸收的热量。 屋顶太阳能电池板和节能灯有助于提高社区的能源效率。 因此，可持续城市的居民现在消耗的能源减少了50% 相较于迪拜其他地区的居民。 十年前，一个完全可持续的社区的想法被认为是不切实际的。 但时代变了，可持续城市的创建者之一法里斯·赛义德说。 价格也是如此。 可持续城市的生活成本与迪拜的其他一些社区相似。 赛义德说：“可持续发展必须更昂贵，这是一个神话。”。 迪拜领导人希望可持续城市成为未来的典范。 到2050年，政府计划从可再生能源（主要是太阳能）中获得该市75%的能源。 它还希望拥有世界上最小的生态足迹。 这个计划很大胆。 但如果成功，即使是在沙漠中毫无愧疚的滑雪也可能成为环境可持续的现实。

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