VOA标准英语2012--A Better Way to Light Homes of People Off the Grid
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2012年(八月)
A Better Way to Light Homes of People Off the Grid 1
Whether you are on or off the grid, access to sufficient energy is a huge challenge for millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. There is a reason for that, says Vijay Iyer, director of the World Bank's department of sustainable energy.
“There have not been enough investments in the energy sector 2 over a long period of time," said Iyer. "It has not been a very high priority for governments to develop.”
And there's an important reason for energy sources in Africa to be affordable 3, says Patrick Avato, a global energy specialist with the International Finance Corporation - or IFC. He spoke 4 to us via Skype.
“Households in Africa spend four or five to $10 to $15 a month on kerosene 5 just for lighting 6," said Avato. "This is a very sizable amount considering that these are some of the poorest people on the planet.”
Three years ago, the IFC and The World Bank launched a program called "Lighting Africa" to provide modern energy to people without access to the grid.
"We saw an opportunity there to leverage 7 the money that they are already spending for kerosene to bring in better technologies, mostly solar lighting," he said.
This woman in Kenya used kerosene lamps until four years ago when she tried solar.
“This lamp is better than the one I had because it has more light," she said. "The flashlight is useful as well especially when I need to go outside at night, I don’t feel afraid."
Many products are being developed by local and sometimes foreign entrepreneurs. Whit 8 Alexander, an American businessman, recently moved to Ghana and started a company called Burro.
”We tried to create a model that would let the savings 9 from rechargeable get passed along to people who are buying throwaway batteries in the villages," said Alexander. "So it’s a rechargeable battery service.”
His batteries can run just about anything - lamps, radios, cell phones. Marketing 10 to people off the grid is a new business opportunity and some companies are showing innovation. A good thing, says Vijay Iyer.
“Very remarkably 11, what has happen[ed] in countries like Ghana and Kenya, a lantern that used to cost $50, the price has come down to $20 to $23 because of competition and innovation," he said. "There is one that has come up with integrating both lighting and cell phone charging, attractive product right.”
In the last three years, companies supported by “Lighting Africa” have provided better access to energy to more than 3 million people in Africa with a primary focus on Kenya and Ghana.
- In this application,the carrier is used to encapsulate the grid.在这种情况下，要用载体把格栅密封起来。
- Modern gauges consist of metal foil in the form of a grid.现代应变仪则由网格形式的金属片组成。
- The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
- The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。
- The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
- There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
- It is like putting out a fire with kerosene.这就像用煤油灭火。
- Instead of electricity,there were kerosene lanterns.没有电，有煤油灯。
- The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
- The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
- We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
- He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。
- There's not a whit of truth in the statement.这声明里没有丝毫的真实性。
- He did not seem a whit concerned.他看来毫不在乎。
- I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
- By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。
- They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
- He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。
- I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
- He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。