咕咕愛囉唆

這樣的建築才酷COOL BUILDINGS

建築保持涼爽？Scientific ways to keep buildings cool

自有科學妙招！隨著 氣溫飆升，電費也經常暴增；這是因為一般人都習慣在漫長炎熱的夏天把冷氣開大。

根據預測，到了二○五○年，全世界約百分之七十五的家戶可能都會有冷氣機；如果真是這樣，那麼冷卻建築物所需要的能源將會增加為目前的三倍。

因此，研究人員持續尋找解決方法，以便將冷氣使用量降到最低。

一些創新方法陸續獲得採用，抑或是仍處於研發過程。

有些建築材料感覺起來比較涼爽，原因是這些材料能吸熱然後再緩慢釋放熱能。

因此，以石塊、磚頭或混凝土蓋成的建築在白天經常會讓人覺得更加涼爽。

有些建築利用水冷系統，以噴灑器等設備在高樓或牆壁裡創造蒸發效果繼而降溫。

通常水會吸熱、蒸發，並且在蒸氣飄升的同時把冷空氣往下壓。

這項原則一旦應用在水冷系統上，便有助於降低室內溫度。

這些不是唯一的方式；科學還有其他妙招

As temperatures soar, electric bills often go through the roof. That's because people tend to crank up their air conditioners during the long, hot summer months.

It's been predicted that by 2050 about 75 percent of the world's homes could have air conditioners. If that's true, the energy required to cool buildings will triple. For that reason, researchers continue to look for solutions to keep air-conditioner usage to a minimum.

Some innovations are being used already or are in the process of being developed.

Certain building materials can feel cooler because of their ability to absorb heat and release it slowly. As a result, buildings made of materials like stone, bricks or concrete often feel cooler during the day.

Other buildings use water cooling systems with sprayers, etc., to create evaporation in towers or walls to cool them. Water typically absorbs heat, evaporates and pushes cool air down as it rises. This principle, when applied to water cooling systems, helps bring inside temperatures down.

These aren't the only methods. Science has a few more tricks up its sleeve.

predict（v.）預料；預言

In 1900 John Watkins predicted the invention of the television.

It has been predicted that within 100 years we will be able to control the weather.

prediction（n.）

The prediction that we will be able to control the weather within the next 100 years remains to be seen. 有待觀察

triple（v.）變成三倍

The value of their house has tripled in the last four years.

The company my friend works for tripled in size last year. 公司規模擴展三倍

triple（adj.）

Josh makes triple the amount of money that Ben makes.

scientific method

hypothesis

scientific calculator

scientism

There is such a thing called scientism, which is the idea that you can refer to science for all of the answers that we need

to soar

the level is raising very quickly.

to go through the roof

means to raise to a very high level

also means become very angry or super angry

to crank up （the AC）

only 8% of people living in the hottest places have AC

temperature drop 氣溫驟降

There is going to be a temperature drop next week.

researcher

absorb（v.）吸收

Because it has been so dry, the ground absorbed the rain quickly.

absorb（v.）理解

It is hard to absorb everything the professor is saying as his information is all so new.

be absorbed in something  全神貫注於某事

It was hard to get Julia’s attention because she was so absorbed in her book.

evaporate（v.）蒸發；消失

Most of the water in the pond behind our house evaporates by the middle of summer.

Fran’s courage evaporated when she got ready to jump out of the plane. 勇氣就消失了

The water will evaporate as soon as you get it hot enough to turn it into steam.

concrete vs.  abstract

evaporation（n.）/evaporate（v.）

vapor

to have trick up one’s sleeve 暗中留有一招；藏有錦囊妙計

That means there are some more unknown things that we have yet to discover, but science is maybe discovering those for us.