How to Make Your House More Energy-efficient

Using less energy around the home is easier than you might think, saving your money while creating a healthier, more comfortable living space for you and your family. Changing a few old habits can make an impact on your energy bill, your comfort and the environment. Here are some handy tips to make your house more energy-efficient.

1 If your home has adjustable central heating, lowering the room temperature even slightly can make a difference. You may not feel it, but your wallet will. It is even more advisable to control temperatures at different times of the day.

2 If the weather allows it, head outside and dry your laundry on a clothesline. The sunlight will help eliminate bacteria and dust. While clothes dryers get the job done faster, they also use up energy. By hanging your clothes out you’ll be cutting greenhouse gases by about three kilograms per load.

3 Installing large windows on the northern side of your house can help you make use of sunlight’s natural warmth. To stay cool indoors on hot summer days, install blinds（百叶窗）to block the heavy sun. Put your desk near the window, then you don’t need a lamp in the daytime.

4 Be sure your hot-water pipes are properly wrapped. In an average home heating water accounts for more than one-quarter of the energy bill. Why let warmth go to waste before it reaches you?

5 When the time comes to replace appliances, select those that are both energy-efficient and of the appropriate size for your needs. Don’t buy bigger ones just because you can.

Task 1 16. Paragraph①（ ）

17. Paragraph②（ ）

18. Paragraph③（ ）

19. Paragraph④（ ）

20. Paragraph⑤（ ）

A: Wrap your pipes

B: Lower the heat

C: Take advantage of natural light

D: Hang clothes out to dry

E: Choose the right size for appliances

F: Buy more appliances

 

Task 2

21. Changing a few old habits can ___.

22. It is advisable to control temperatures ___..

23. When you dry the laundry on a clothesline, sunlight will help ___..

24. If the windows are installed on the northern side of the house, you can ___..

25. When choosing the appliances, you should___.

A: eliminate bacteria and dust

B: affect your energy bill

C: at different times of the day

D: make use of sunlight’s natural warmth

E: select those that are energy-efficient

F: on rainy days

Remaining Active

Our body is an amazing object. 26________ If you are inactive most of the time, your body will quickly become tired when it should be active. But if you are very active, your body will get used to the hard work, and the work will become easier for you to do.

Physical activity can help people remain active and stay healthy.27 ________ It also helps people sleep better. This is why active students don't complain about being tired. They have a good night's sleep and have the energy to study hard and have fun every day.

Physical activity also makes people look and feel good. Activity burns more calories（卡路里） than just sitting. 38________ In addition, regular exercise can make your muscles and bones stronger. There are many factors to look at when you select a new physical activity. The most important is to choose something you enjoy. If you like jumping rope, that is the activity you should do. 29________ In fact, two days of basketball, three days of swimming, and two days of bicycling can be more fun than jogging every day.

30 ________ Some skills will improve with practice while others may always be difficult for you. If you enjoy an activity, feel free to do it. No one cares whether you can do it well or not, and you don't need to care about it either. Whatever activity you choose, remain active. It can make you physically fit and healthy for life.

 

A: But you don't have to do the same thing every day.

B: Different activities need different skills.

C: You may prefer to participate in team activities.

D: It helps the body fight off illness.

E: The more you ask of it, the more it can do.

F: It is very important to keep a healthy weight. 

A small action doesn't work to change one's habit.（ ）

• A、True

• B、False

• C、Not Given