奇速英语

All around the world, buildings are going green! People are making green buildings. What does it mean to go green or to make a green building? A green building is designed (设计) in a way that is not harmful to the environment. The building uses energy, water, and other materials in ways that are good for the environment.

When planning green buildings, architects (建筑师) must think about how to use energy, water, and materials in an environment-friendly way. There are many ways to save energy. Architects can design buildings to use natural light. Buildings can also be made with solar or wind power to get energy from the sun or the wind. To save water, green buildings can have areas on the roofs to collect rainwater. Kitchens and bathrooms can have sinks (洗池) and toilets (马桶) that conserve water. As for the materials used to build the building, it is important to use materials that do not have chemicals that are harmful to the air or water. Recycled materials can also be used for buildings.

Buildings around the world use all three of these ways to go green. An office building called CH2 in Melbourne, Australia, uses wind and solar power. A cultural center in London, England, is made from recycled train cars and is powered by solar and wind power. The Academy of Sciences building in California in the U. S. has recycled materials, solar energy, and a huge "living roof" of plants. A temple in Thailand is made out of one million recycled glass bottles! This is a good use of recycled material, and it also lets natural light into the temple.

More and more green buildings are being built and they are making the world a better place!