第二篇：        “Green building” is a popular term these days. But what does that really mean, and who decides whether a buildingis green or not? In the United States, there is no governing body which says: “This building is green and that one isnʼt.”The Environmental Protection Agency does have a definition in place, though. According to the EPA, green buildingsare structures that use natural resources efficiently and in a sustainable way.       You might think that this is a new or very modern idea, but it actually dates back half a century. In the 1970s,buildings that used the modern “green” architecture concepts began to appear. For instance, the Willis Faber and DumasHeadquarters building in England had a grass roof. It also had a large center hall that was lit by natural light. In California,the Gregory Bateson Building was one of the first constructions to use solar cells to store energy from the sun.       In the following decade, people were starting to realize that besides helping the environment, green buildings couldalso save them money on their heating, cooling, and electric bills. Solar panels became more widely used for a renewablesource of electricity. Buildings also began to be equipped with rainwater collection systems. In another decade’s time,even the White House itself was undergoing the process of turning green. Experts believe that, since 1996, the WhiteHouse has saved US$300,000 a year in energy and water costs.       Today, green architecture is taking off all over the world. There is even a Global Award for SustainableArchitecture, which was founded in 2006. It is handed out each year to five architects who design the most revolutionaryand innovative green buildings. One of the winners in 2023, Xu Tiantian of China, is known for her “ArchitecturalAcupuncture,” a holistic approach to the social and economic revitalization of rural China. In the future, more architectsare expected to join this green trend.
【題組】46. What is this article mainly about?
(A) Some best designers of green buildings in the world.
(B) The pros and cons of green buildings.
(C) The history and development of green buildings.
(D) The analysis of why green buildings are too costly.