Is the attempt to make environmentally friendly roadways doomed to wind up in the toilet? Actually, it may be the other way around. To earn a green certification, the Meador Kansas Ellis Trail in Bellingham, Washington, included 400 recycled commodes in the concrete.
建造环保道路一定要拆除沿途的厕所吗?事实上,我们可以采取正好相反的措施。为了拿到绿色证明,美国华盛顿州贝灵翰姆的米德-堪萨斯-艾利斯小道在水泥路上安装了400个可再生厕所。
Greenroads is a new rating system, developed at the University of Washington, which judges the sustainability of roads and road construction projects. Under the system, projects must incorporate 11 specific features, such as dealing with waste from the construction process, as well as some optional practices, which in the case of the Meador Kansas Ellis Trail included recycling.
在华盛顿大学创立的“绿色道路”是一项新的评级系统。它能评估道路和道路建设工程的可持续性。这项系统对工程的评估有11条具体标准,如处理建设过程中产生的废物的能力和其他的一些措施。米德-堪萨斯-艾利斯小道采取的就是循环法。
The toilet interment helped the project win the first official Greenroads nod, earning a silver certification. About 30 percent of the pavement consists of recycled concrete and, yes, crushed-up toilets, nicknamed “poticrete.”
厕所葬礼帮助这个项目赢得了绿色道路的第一次官方肯定,并得到了银牌认证。米德-堪萨斯-艾利斯小道大概有三分之一的部
分由可再生混凝土和粉碎的厕所(俗称“poticrete”)组成。
But this project's sustainability relies on more than old thrones. The Trail's porous concrete prevents excessive run-off; it's illuminated with low-energy lighting; and its mere presence encourages bicycle and foot traffic. These green features mean that sustainable roadways can be more than a pipe dream.
但是这个项目的可持续性不仅源于厕所本身。道路的多孔混凝土可以防止水的过度流失;节能灯可以给道路照明;窄小的面积可以鼓励人们骑自行车或步行。这些绿色特征表明可持续道路不会只是个白日梦。