????此外，這個為全世界帶來混合動力技術的國家還正在致力于開發能夠減少溫室氣體排放，提高能源使用效率的新技術。松下公司(Panasonic)研發的太陽能電池板實現了全球最高的光電轉化率。這家公司的新硅片太陽能電池已經取得了24.7%的光電轉化率——此前的平均比率僅為10%。與此同時，日立(Hitachi)、富士通(Fujitsu)和日本電氣公司(NEC)正通力研發新一代半導體。這些公司希望，計劃于2019年前投產的新一代半導體需要的電能將僅僅是目前設備的十分之一。

????九州大學研究員大谷裕司已經開發出了一種名為“風鏡”( Wind Lens)的超高效風力渦輪機。他聲稱，這種蜂巢狀結構的渦輪機能夠將海上風機產生的風能提升2倍。來自大阪的發明家 Ken Hashizume試圖利用一種名為“熱墊”(Hot Pad)，能源消耗低的LED技術，改變戶外取暖市場的現狀，這一市場目前被能源浪費極大的燃氣熱水器主宰。

????從目前的情形看，美國或許應向日本取取經。日本的能源效率幾乎是美國的兩倍；日本家庭的年均能耗為5,190千瓦時，而美國則高達9,538千瓦時。（財富中文網）

????譯者：任文科?

????The country that gave the world the hybrid is also tapping into new technologies to cut emissions and boost efficiency. Panasonic's solar panels have achieved the world's highest conversion rate for turning light into electricity. The efficiency of its new silicon wafer solar cells does this at a rate of 24.7%, where previously the average was around only 10%. Hitachi, Fujitsu, and NEC, meanwhile, are jointly developing next-generation semiconductors they hope will operate by 2019 that will require just one-tenth of the power consumed by present-day devices.

????Researcher Yuji Ohya of Kyushu University has developed an ultra-efficient wind turbine he calls the Wind Lens. The honeycomb-like structure could triple the amount of wind energy that is produced by offshore turbines, he claims. And with an eye on the market for outdoor heating, now dominated by the outrageously wasteful gas heater, Osaka-based inventor Ken Hashizume has come up with the idea of utilizing low energy LED technology he calls the Hot Pad.

????America could learn a thing or two from Japan, it seems. Japan's energy efficiency is nearly twice as efficient as the U.S.; burning an annual average of 5,190 kilowatt-hours per capita compared to the U.S.'s average per household of 9,538 kilowatt-hours a year.