Going green
By making small changes to your home, your daily routine and your lifestyle, you can have a positive impact on the environment.
Hilfsvokabeln– Helpful vocabulary
- ausschalten (v) – to switch off/to turn off
- die Energiesparlampen (f) – energy saving lights
- ersetzen – to replace
- das Fenster (die Fenster) (nt) – window (windows)
- die Glühbirne (f) – lightbulb
- kurz (adj) – short
- laufen lassen (v) – to let run
- schließen (v) – to close
- treibstoffsparend (adj) – fuel-efficient
- die Tür (f) – door
Question
Match up the German to the correct English translation.
Don’t worry about understanding every word. Look at the English translation and see you if can spot any similarities to the German or look for words you understand and match these sentences up first.
| German | English |
| 1. kurz duschen statt baden | A. to turn the light off when no one is in the room |
| 2. ein treibstoffsparendes Auto fahren | B. to close doors and windows when the heating is on |
| 3. weniger Papier verbrauchen | C. to replace traditional lightbulbs with energy-saving lights |
| 4. Licht ausschalten, wenn niemand im Zimmer ist. | D. to drive a fuel-efficient car |
| 5. beim Zähneputzen das Wasser nicht laufen lassen | E. to not let the water run when brushing teeth |
| 6. öffentliche Verkehrsmittel benutzen | F. to use less paper |
| 7. Fenster und Türen schließen, wenn die Heizung an ist | G. to use public transport |
| 8. traditionelle Glühbirnen durch Energiesparlampen ersetzen | H. to (have) a quick/short shower instead of having a bath/bathing |
| German | 1. kurz duschen statt baden |
|---|---|
| English | A. to turn the light off when no one is in the room |
| German | 2. ein treibstoffsparendes Auto fahren |
|---|---|
| English | B. to close doors and windows when the heating is on |
| German | 3. weniger Papier verbrauchen |
|---|---|
| English | C. to replace traditional lightbulbs with energy-saving lights |
| German | 4. Licht ausschalten, wenn niemand im Zimmer ist. |
|---|---|
| English | D. to drive a fuel-efficient car |
| German | 5. beim Zähneputzen das Wasser nicht laufen lassen |
|---|---|
| English | E. to not let the water run when brushing teeth |
| German | 6. öffentliche Verkehrsmittel benutzen |
|---|---|
| English | F. to use less paper |
| German | 7. Fenster und Türen schließen, wenn die Heizung an ist |
|---|---|
| English | G. to use public transport |
| German | 8. traditionelle Glühbirnen durch Energiesparlampen ersetzen |
|---|---|
| English | H. to (have) a quick/short shower instead of having a bath/bathing |
- kurz duschen statt baden – H. to (have) a quick/short shower instead of having a bath/bathing
- ein treibstoffsparendes Auto fahren – D. to drive a fuel-efficient car
- weniger Papier verbrauchen – F. to use less paper
- to replace traditional lightbulbs with energy-saving lights – A. to turn the light off when no one is in the room
- beim Zähneputzen das Wasser nicht laufen lassen – E. to not let the water run when brushing teeth
- öffentliche Verkehrsmittel benutzen – G. to use public transport
- Fenster und Türen schließen, wenn die Heizung an ist – B. to close doors and windows when the heating is on
- traditionelle Glühbirnen durch Energiesparlampen ersetzen. – C. to replace traditional lightbulbs with energy-saving lights
Question
Read the two texts and decide if the statements below are made by Alex or Sandra.
Afterwards, translate the texts into English.
Alex:Ich wohne in einem kleinen Dorf in den Bergen und die Landschaft hier ist so schön. Die Umwelt ist mir sehr wichtig und ich mache alles, was ich kann, die Umwelt zu schützen. Statt zu baden, dusche ich kurz und wenn ich die Zähne putze, lasse ich nie das Wasser laufen, um Wasser zu sparen. Ich fahre auch jeden Tag mit dem Rad zur Schule und wenn ich älter bin, werde ich ein treibstoffsparendes Auto kaufen. Ich schließe auch Fenster und Türen, wenn die Heizung an ist und ich trage oft einen dicken Pullover im Winter, um Energie zu sparen.
Sandra:Ich wohne in einer Großstadt und die Bus- und Bahnverbindungen sind wirklich gut. Es ist teuer in der Stadtmitte zu parken und es gibt oft nicht genug Parkpläzte, also fahre ich oft mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln. Zu Hause ist meine Familie auch sehr umweltfreundlich. Mein Vater hat ein treibstoffsparendes Auto und bei der Arbeit versucht er, weniger Papier zu verbrauchen. Meine Mutter hat auch neulich alle traditionelle Glühbirnen durch Energiesparlampen in unserem Haus ersetzt.
- I live in the mountains.
- I cycle to school everyday.
- It is expensive to park in the town centre.
- I never let the water run when I brush my teeth.
- I often travel by public transport.
- My mother recently replaced all of the traditional lightbulbs with energy-saving lights.
- At work my father tries to use less paper.
- When I am older I will buy a fuel-efficient car.
- I wear a thick jumper in the winter.
- Instead of having a bath, I have a quick shower.
| Alex | Sandra |
| I live in the mountains. | It is expensive to park in the town centre. |
| I cycle to school everyday. | I often travel by public transport. |
| I never let the water run when I brush my teeth. | My mother recently replaced all of the traditional lightbulbs with energy-saving lights. |
| When I am older I will buy a fuel-efficient car. | At work my father tries to use less paper. |
| I wear a thick jumper in the winter. | |
| Instead of having a bath, I have a quick shower. |
| Alex | I live in the mountains. |
|---|---|
| Sandra | It is expensive to park in the town centre. |
| Alex | I cycle to school everyday. |
|---|---|
| Sandra | I often travel by public transport. |
| Alex | I never let the water run when I brush my teeth. |
|---|---|
| Sandra | My mother recently replaced all of the traditional lightbulbs with energy-saving lights. |
| Alex | When I am older I will buy a fuel-efficient car. |
|---|---|
| Sandra | At work my father tries to use less paper. |
| Alex | I wear a thick jumper in the winter. |
|---|---|
| Sandra |
| Alex | Instead of having a bath, I have a quick shower. |
|---|---|
| Sandra |
Translations
Alex:I live in a small village in the mountains and the landscape/countryside is so beautiful here. The environment is very important to me and I do everything I can to protect the environment. Instead of having a bath, I shower quickly and when I brush my teeth, I don't let the water run, in order to save water. I also ride my bike to school every day, and when I'm older I'm going to buy a fuel-efficient car. I also close the windows and doors when the heating is on and I often wear a thick jumper in the winter in order to save energy.
Sandra: I live in a city and the bus and train connections are really good. It's expensive to live in the town centre and often there aren't enough parking spaces, so I often travel by public transport. At home, my family is also very environmentally-friendly. My father has a fuel-efficient car and at work he tries to use less paper. My mother has also recently replaced all traditional bulbs in our house with energy-saving lights.
Did you know?
In 2009, the European Union – die Europäische Union – banned incandescent lightbulbs, forcing governments to phase out traditional lightbulbs in favour of energy-efficient ones.
Although energy-saving lightbulbs are better for the environment, traditional lightbulbs were cheaper to buy. Ironically, the ban led to large numbers of people bulk-buying traditional lightbulbs in Germany and hoarding them before stocks were replaced with the new energy-saving bulbs.
The word Glühbirne is the German word for 'a lightbulb'. It is a Two or more nouns joined together to make one noun. made up of two different words to create a new noun – glüh means 'glowing' and Birne means 'pear', so Glühbirne literally means ‘a glowing pear’.
