Formanyyearsasmallpercentageofhomeownershavefixedsolarpanels(太阳能板)ontheirrooftops.Thosepanelscollectsomeofthesun’senergyandeitherchangeitintoelectricityoruseittoheatwater.Untilrecentlythepanelsweretooexpensiveforaveragehomeownersandtheirdesignswerenotattractive.Thankstonewadvanceshoweversolarpanelsforhomesarebecomingcheaperandlesslargeandheavy.Nowmorehomeownersareconsideringusingthem.
StoresbegintosellSolarpanels
Lastfallfurnitureretailer(零售商)IKEAbegansellingsolarpanelsinitsU.K.stores.IKEAhasbroughttheDIYsolarchoicetothepublic.Whileshoppingforfurnitureshopperscouldnotaddaboxortwoofsolarpanelstotheirshoppingcart(购物车).IKEAispartneringwithacompany.Thecompanydealswithfixingandservcingofthesolarpanelsontheroofs.Soitiseasyforcustomerstochangefromoldenergysystemtosolarsystem.IfallgoeswellIKEAplanstobeginsellingthepanelsinothercountriessoon.
Stylishsolarpanels
SolTechaSwedishcompanyoffersareallygreatsolar-powersolution.InsteadofflatpanelsSolTechcoversthepanelswithaspecialglasstile.Andtheshapeoftheglasstilefitstraditionaltiledroofdesigns.SolTechrecentlyofferssolarsystemsthatheatthehome’sairorwater.Anditalsooffersonesolarsystemthatproduceselectricity.
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Newtechnologyhasturnedwindowsintosolarpanels.SolarWindowtechnologyenablessee-throughwindowstoproduceelectricityaftertheglasssurfaceisaddedwithaspecialcoating.AmazinglySolarWindowcanproduceelectricityinlow-lightconditonsandcaneventurnindoorman-madelightintoelectricity!Sincebuildingsaregettingtallerandabout60percentofanofficebuilding’ssurfaceiscoveredwithwindowssolarwindowcouldbecomeaverypopularwayforpeopletoproduceenergyandsavemoney.
Turningyourhome–business-intoasolar-poweredoneisachoicethat’sbecomingalotmoreattractivethesedays!
1.Thispassagemainlytalksabout______.
A.fashionshowsB.lifeintheUK
C.atechnologyD.differentopinions
2.Thereasonwhyonlyafewhomeownersusedsolarpanelsisthattheyare__________.
A.cheap