DOC《2016能源翻译大赛初赛试题》

2016能源翻译大赛初赛试题 Passage

1 Translate the following passage into Chinese (60 points) While humans have continually improved the efficiency with which they convert primary energy into useful goods and services, calculations by physicists and engineers indicate a great potential for further improvement.

Figure 1.3 provides a rough indication of energy efficiency improvement by setting energy input in a ratio with economic output (E/GDP), the latter measured in monetary units. But this ratio should really be thought of as energy intensity because it can change for reasons that do not relate to true physical changes in energy efficiency. For example, the monetary value of an output like shoes can change because of quality improvements, which increase GDP. For the E/GDP ratio to fall because of increased energy efficiency, this would be because of actual improvements in energy extraction, energy conversion, energy distribution and energy end-use devices and processes that reduce the difference between primary energy inputs and the energy services we receive. Promoters of energy efficiency point to the significant efficiency differences that exist between countries. Sweden and Canada, for example, have similar geography, climate, levels of urbanization and standard of living, yet their E/GDP ratios differ significantly. After allowing for differences in their industrial bases (Canada has a relatively larger share of GDP from resource extraction industries which are energy intensive), researchers found that Sweden was significantly more efficient in its use of energy than Canada. Buildings, appliances, industrial equipment and vehicles in Sweden are generally more efficient than their Canadian counterparts. While some researchers conduct intercountry energy comparisons like this as a way of estimating each country's potential for energy efficiency improvement, others focus instead on identifying the most energy efficient technologies available today and use these as a benchmark for estimating a country or industry's potential for energy efficiency improvement. Finally, in a third approach C this one more futuristic C some researchers use advanced engineering design to speculate on the potential improvements in energy efficiency over a longer timeframe which could result from a concerted program of research, development, and commercialization. All the three areas of research suggest that significant improvements in energy efficiency in industrialized countries could substantially reduce the need for energy supply expansion, even while energy services expanded. It seems difficult to find a downside to energy efficiency. If all of our supply alternatives entail some negative effects, then using less can only improve things. But is it that simple? Some energy experts argue that policies promoting profitable energy efficiency investments, through greater provision of information or via subsidies, will ultimately lead to higher energy use and greater environmental impacts. Energy efficiency is thus presented as a double-edged sword in that more efficient equipment costs less to operate, which will affect decisions about acquiring and operating such equipment. Rich people in wealthy countries of the world certainly use more energy per capita than their poorer neighbors. Our cars and heating systems may be more efficient than forty years ago. But we also drive more, buy larger houses and acquire new innovations like air conditioners, water coolers, wine coolers, jacuzzis and a myriad of other energy-using devices that did not exist back then. A full assessment of energy efficiency's contribution must therefore examine not only the evolving efficiency of our equipment and buildings, but also the energy service wants of people in industrialized countries and the rising energy service demands of people in developing countries, all of which depends in turn on the full cost of providing energy services. We cannot fully assess energy efficiency's potential until we know what a cleaner, more benign energy system will cost, and for that we must review our energy supply alternatives. Passage