Air-to-Water Machines Available in Dry Area of US
2021-10-11
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1If a machine could make water out of air but cost a lot of money, would you buy it?
2In very dry parts of California, some homeowners are doing just that.
3The air-to-water system works like an air conditioner by using coils to cool air.
4It then collects water and drops it in a container.
5The water is then cleaned to make it safe to drink.
6"Our motto is, water from air (is not) magic, (it is) science, and (that is) really what (we are) doing with these machines," said Ted Bowman.
7He is a design engineer at Washington state-based Tsunami Products and helped to design the machine.
8The system is one of several that have been developed in recent years to remove water from the air.
9The machines are made for use at homes, offices, farms ... just about anywhere.
10The technology works especially well in foggy areas. Machines come in different sizes.
11The largest can produce about 8,600 liters of water a day.
12The machines, Bowman added, also operate well in any area with high humidity.
13This includes California's coastline.
14The machines are costly. Prices start at $30,000 and go as high as $200,000.
15Even though the cost is high, some homeowners in California are buying them to meet their water needs.
16California is experiencing one of the worst droughts in recent history.
17The water supply there is extremely low and people have been asked to save water.
18Don Johnson lives in California and bought the smallest machine.
19It looks like a large air conditioning unit.
20He said he hoped it would produce enough water to keep his garden alive.
21He found, however, that it produces more than enough water for use in his garden and house.
22"This machine will produce water for a lot less than you can buy bottled water ... for," he said.
23Johnson added that as the cost of water goes up, he thinks the machine will pay for itself.
24Besides the high price, the machine also needs a lot of energy to run.
25But Johnson said the solar panels on the roof produce enough power to operate the machine without adding energy costs.
26Some experts say the technology makes sense for individual homeowners, especially in rural areas.
27But it may not be a good solution for all of California.
28One such expert is Helen Dahlke, a researcher with the University of California, Davis.
29She said the most important thing is to fight global warming to prevent future droughts.
30She said the world needs to slow climate warming to really make a difference.
31I'm Anna Matteo.
1If a machine could make water out of air but cost a lot of money, would you buy it? In very dry parts of California, some homeowners are doing just that. 2The air-to-water system works like an air conditioner by using coils to cool air. It then collects water and drops it in a container. The water is then cleaned to make it safe to drink. 3"Our motto is, water from air (is not) magic, (it is) science, and (that is) really what (we are) doing with these machines," said Ted Bowman. He is a design engineer at Washington state-based Tsunami Products and helped to design the machine. 4The system is one of several that have been developed in recent years to remove water from the air. 5The machines are made for use at homes, offices, farms ... just about anywhere. The technology works especially well in foggy areas. Machines come in different sizes. The largest can produce about 8,600 liters of water a day. 6The machines, Bowman added, also operate well in any area with high humidity. This includes California's coastline. 7The machines are costly. Prices start at $30,000 and go as high as $200,000. 8Even though the cost is high, some homeowners in California are buying them to meet their water needs. California is experiencing one of the worst droughts in recent history. The water supply there is extremely low and people have been asked to save water. 9Don Johnson lives in California and bought the smallest machine. It looks like a large air conditioning unit. He said he hoped it would produce enough water to keep his garden alive. He found, however, that it produces more than enough water for use in his garden and house. 10"This machine will produce water for a lot less than you can buy bottled water ... for," he said. Johnson added that as the cost of water goes up, he thinks the machine will pay for itself. 11Besides the high price, the machine also needs a lot of energy to run. But Johnson said the solar panels on the roof produce enough power to operate the machine without adding energy costs. 12Some experts say the technology makes sense for individual homeowners, especially in rural areas. But it may not be a good solution for all of California. 13One such expert is Helen Dahlke, a researcher with the University of California, Davis. She said the most important thing is to fight global warming to prevent future droughts. She said the world needs to slow climate warming to really make a difference. 14I'm Anna Matteo. 15Haven Daley reported this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 16______________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18air conditioner - n. a system for controlling the humidity, ventilation, and temperature in a building or vehicle, typically to maintain a cool atmosphere in warm conditions. 19coil - n. a series of connected pipes in rows, layers, or windings 20motto - n. a short sentence or phrase that expresses a rule guiding the behavior of a particular person or group 21magic - n. a power that seems mysterious 22humidity - n. a moderate degree of wetness especially of the atmosphere 23foggy - adj. covered with small drops of water 24drought - n. a period of dryness especially when prolonged 25solar panel - n. a battery of solar cells (as on a rooftop) 26roof - n. the cover or top of a building, vehicle, etc.