Basic 3 Unit 9

Unit 9
Saving Energy

Introduction
a. Complete the conversation with the words below.

appliances • bill • energy-efficient • save • thermostat • waste

Lydia: My electricity (1) bill

________________ was really high this month! I need to
energy-efficent
figure out ways to (2) ________________ energy.
appliances
Henry: Do you use a lot of electrical (3) ________________? Dishwashers and
clothes dryers can (4) waste
_______________ a lot of energy.
Lydia: I know, but I just bought a new dishwasher and dryer, and they are supposed
to be very (5) save
________________.
thermostat
Henry: Have you checked your (6) _________________? If it’s set too high, you may
be using a lot more electricity than you think.
Lydia: You’re right! I’ve had the heat on a lot this month. Maybe that’s why my bill is
so high.

Copyright © 1990-2018 Edusoft Ltd. All rights reserved 53

Basic 3 Unit 9

b. Complete the conditional sentences. Choose from the sentence parts below.

When you save energy • take showers instead of baths

you waste electricity • you also save money • When you leave the heat on all day

you waste electricity

1. If you leave the lights on all day, _____________________________________.

2. When you save energy

_________________________________________, you help the environment.

3. If you want to save water, you also save money

__________________________________________.

4. When you leave the heat on all day

________________________________________________, you waste energy.
take showers instead of baths
5. Another good thing about saving energy is, _____________________________.

How to Save Energy

a. Do you remember the ideas for saving energy from the computer lesson? What
should you do to save energy? Mark “Do” or “Don’t”.

Do Don’t
1. Leave the water running when you wash dishes.
2. Fill your refrigerator with water bottles.
3. Take baths instead of showers.
4. Leave your cell phone charging all night.
5. Use the sun to dry your clothes.
6. Use a thermostat to control the temperature on your air
conditioning.

54 Copyright © 1990-2018 Edusoft Ltd. All rights reserved

 Basic 3 Unit 9

The Electricity Bill

a. Do you remember the conversation Jake had with his mother about saving
energy at home? Who said what? Mark the correct name.
Jake Jake’s mother

1. “Our electricity bill is really high this month.”

2. “I'm home studying. I need the lights on.”

“You don’t need all the lights on in the kitchen and living
3.
room.”
“How many times do I have to tell you how important it is to
4.
save energy?”

5. “Did you try putting on a sweater?”

6. “You’re right. I am really sorry.”

7. “Why don’t you go and relax and I’ll get dinner ready.”

8. “Don’t baths waste water?”

b. Imagine you are Jake. Write an e-mail to a friend explaining the conversation you
had with your mother. What was the conversation about? Why was your mother
upset? How do you plan on changing your behavior?

To: samwest@gigamail.net

From: jake2000@comserve.com

Subject: Hi!

Hi Sam,
I had the worst fight with my mother last night.
Hi Manuel, I had an argument with my mom for leaving the lights on in the patio,
_____________________________________________________________
but I left them like that because I'm afraid everything will be dark,
_____________________________________________________________
I'll try to get used to sleeping in the dark and I won't leave the lights on after from today.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Copyright © 1990-2018 Edusoft Ltd. All rights reserved 55

Basic 3 Unit 9

Looking for a Washing Machine

a. Do you remember the video with the customer and the salesclerk? Read the
sentences below. Mark if they are true or false according to the video.

True False
1. The customer wants to buy a new washing machine.
2. The customer asks for an affordable machine.
3. The salesclerk shows the customer an energy-efficient machine.
4. The machine does not have a short wash.

b. Here is another conversation between a customer and a salesclerk. Read the

dialogue and answer the questions.

Customer: I’m looking for a refrigerator that is energy-efficient.

Salesclerk: Here are our refrigerators. They all have great ENERGY STAR ratings.
Customer: Which are the most energy-efficient?
Salesclerk: These over here — the ones with the freezer at the top.
Customer: I like this model. Do you have it in chrome?
Salesclerk: No, I’m sorry. It only comes in white.

1. What kind of refrigerator does the customer want to buy?

He looking for a refrigerator that is energy-efficent.
_____________________________________________________________
2. What do we know about the refrigerators in the store?
All have great ENERGY STAR.
_____________________________________________________________
3. Which models are the most energy-efficient?
The ones with the freezer at the top.
_____________________________________________________________
4. What is the salesclerk sorry about?
Because it doesn't have chrome color, only white.
_____________________________________________________________

56 Copyright © 1990-2018 Edusoft Ltd. All rights reserved

 Basic 3 Unit 9

Make Your Own Energy

a. Do you remember the article from the computer lesson? Which places did the
article mention as examples of “people power”?

a train station

a dance club

a cell phone company

a gym

an airport

b. Number the sentences about how we can create kinetic energy in the correct order.
1 a. The turbine creates electricity.
4 b. When people use these special machines, they turn a turbine.
2 c. These gyms have special stationary bikes, treadmills, or other exercise machines.
3 d. This electricity then helps power the gym.
6 e. At the gym, everyone is in motion.
5 f. Some gyms decided to use this energy to create power.

c. Circle the correct word to complete the sentences.

1. When something stays in one place, it is stationary/ in motion/ special.

2. When we change something into a different form, we convert/ power/ unplug it.

3. A treadmill/ turbine/ display is an engine that has blades that spin to create energy.

4. We call energy that comes from movement kinetic/ dance/ power energy.

5. A turbine/ treadmill/ dance floor is an exercise machine that allows you to run while
staying in one place.
d. Explain to a partner how people can make their own kinetic energy.

Copyright © 1990-2018 Edusoft Ltd. All rights reserved 57

Basic 3 Unit 9

Renewable Energy
a. Do you remember the lecture from the computer lesson? Read about a third kind
of renewable energy and answer the questions below.

Geothermal energy

Another type of renewable energy is

geothermal energy. Geo means “earth”
and thermal means “heat”. Deep inside the
Earth it is very, very hot. We can use this
underground heat to warm homes and
heat up water.

How do we take heat from the ground?

One way is with geothermal power plants.
At geothermal power plants, workers dig
deep into the Earth. Then, they pump
steam or hot water to the surface. They
convert this steam into electricity.

1. What kind of renewable energy does the writer talk about?

_____________________________________________________________
2. Where do we get this kind of energy?
_____________________________________________________________
3. How do we get this kind of energy?
_____________________________________________________________
4. What does “thermal” mean?
_____________________________________________________________

b. Which type of renewable energy do you think is the most useful? Discuss with
a partner.

58 Copyright © 1990-2018 Edusoft Ltd. All rights reserved