The Mirror Has Two Faces

Mirror，mirror on the wall，who's the hottest of them all？

The question takes on new meaning with Solaris electric room heaters from Fondis of Thann， France．The devices are made from radiant1) glass，which is used for windscreens2) on airplanes and high-speed trains．In a room，they sort of look like mirrors．

The heaters consist of two glass plates sandwiched together3)．When voltage4) is applied to a metallic layer between the plates，it warms up and radiates heat to the room．To protect them from breaking，the plates are ma de from the same tempered glass used in commercial buildings．Fondis' Jean－Marie Trotzier says that installed costs for a given room are similar to that of electric baseboard heat，but that the panels use １５percent less electricity．

The panels5)，which come in a range of colors，have been available in Europe for around three years；their U．S．debut6) will come as soon as the company finds a distributor．

两 用 镜 子

魔镜魔镜告诉我，他们中间谁最火。

对于设在法国坦恩的Fondis公司的太阳能室内电热器来说，这个问题还有另外一层意思。这种产品是由用于飞机和高速火车的反光挡风玻璃制成。在屋子里它们看上去很像镜子。

这种镜子加热器由两层玻璃板粘合而成。当电流通过玻璃板之间的金属层时，加热器升温并将热量向房间辐射。为防止碎裂，玻璃板的材质与商业大厦的钢化玻璃相同。Fondis公司的让－马里耶•特罗齐尔说，对于相同的房间，这种加热器的安装费用与其他护壁板加热器一样，但耗电量可节约１５％。

这种电热板具有多种色彩，已在欧洲市场上销售３年。一旦公司找到经销商，就将在美国上市。

NOTE 注释：

1. radiant adj. 发光的，反光的

2. windscreen n. 风档玻璃

3. sandwich together 粘合在一起

4. voltage n. [电工]电压,

5. panel n. 面板，仪器板

6. debut n. 初次登场, 开张
关键字:双语阅读
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