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Extra Reading

How green can you be?

It’s difficult to be really green these days. Every day, we use lots of
electricity just by recharging our phone or watching TV. We use lots of
water when we have a shower and petrol if we use a car or a bus.
So how easy is it to be really environmentally friendly?
More and more people are living ‘off-grid’. This means that they never use
electricity from power stations or water from water companies. They save
a lot of money, but it isn’t easy.

The Lowe family of West Virginia went ‘off-grid’
two years ago. They put solar panels on the roof
of their small home, and now generate 100%
of their own electricity. This is enough to power
their TV and computer and they use wood to
heat their home on the colder days. The only
problem is when it’s cloudy or it rains. Then, the
sun disappears, and there isn’t enough electricity
to power everything. This means that the Lowe
family have to watch the weather forecast very
carefully, and plan exactly when they are going to
use the washing machine, or watch the TV.

A more extreme example is Mark Boyle, who lives
in the south of England. He decided to try and
live without using any electricity, or spending any
money. He bought a caravan near a farm, and
started to do voluntary work in return for food.
He uses solar panels to power his laptop, and
cooks with a wood fire.
If he needs something, for example new clothes,
or new equipment for his caravan, he volunteers
for his friends, or cooks them food.

He says that he has learned a lot from living in
this way. The most important thing, he says, is
that money is not so important. Life is easier
now, without stress or worrying about bills. And,
he says, he has learned what true friendship is.

❯ Go to www.cambridge.org/elt/more for exercises. UNIT 11 113
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Go to www.cambridge.org/elt/more for exercises