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Kalle's house gets a solar roof

B2 · 21 words

Kalle's house gets a solar roof

Kalle's electricity bill was high again, so he and his neighbours have put solar panels on their roof. Learn to talk about energy - consumption, renewable sources, saving power - and to weigh the costs against what you save.

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Dialogue

A short conversation with the words of this scenario. Tap "Translation" under a line to see what it means.

  1. Otti

    Kalle, was machst du denn auf dem Dach?

    Translation

    Kalle, what are you doing on the roof?

  2. Kalle

    Translation

    I'm admiring our new solar panels! The neighbours and I paid for them together.

  3. Otti

    Translation

    Why, though? Electricity comes out of the socket.

  4. Kalle

    Aus der Steckdose schon, aber vorher oft aus einem Kraftwerk, das Kohle verbrennt. Und meine letzte Stromrechnung war wieder viel zu hoch.

    Translation

    From the socket, yes, but before that often from a power station that burns coal. And my last electricity bill was far too high again.

  5. Otti

    Und jetzt erzeugt dein Dach die Energie selbst?

    Translation

    And now your roof generates the energy itself?

  6. Kalle

    Translation

    Exactly, from the sun - a renewable energy, like wind power. On sunny days we're almost independent of the grid.

  7. Otti

    Aber so eine Anschaffung ist doch teuer. Lohnt sich das überhaupt?

    Translation

    But a purchase like that must be expensive. Is it even worth it?

  8. Kalle

    Translation

    We weighed it up for a long time. We save around a thousand euros a year, and the more expensive electricity gets, the faster it pays off.

  9. Otti

    Translation

    And in winter? The heating uses the most, doesn't it?

  10. Kalle

    Translation

    That's why we're getting a heat pump and better insulation next year. In the long run that will bring our consumption down.

  11. Otti

    Sehr effizient! Ich spare übrigens auch Energie: Ich schlafe einfach bis mittags.

    Translation

    Very efficient! By the way, I save energy too: I just sleep until noon.

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