Question 2 - 2.2 · Inglés PAU Galicia Extraordinaria 2023

TEXT B

In the 1970s, many people became concerned about energy. People had to face up to the fact that they used too much energy, and energy sources were not going to last forever. A famous architect set out to design homes that were cheaper to build and more energy efficient. In addition, he wanted to do something about garbage. Finally, he came up with the idea of “earthships.”

Although it sounds like a boat, an earthship is a house. However, unlike regular houses, earthships are constructed from garbage and are built using only ten percent of the energy needed to build a typical house. Moreover, after they are built, earthships use only ten percent of the energy required to heat, light, and cool a regular home. Although earthships sound unique, they can actually be built to look just like any other house.

One of the big benefits of earthships is that they are made from recycled materials. The main construction material of an earthship is tyres that are filled with dirt. Because the tyres are round, there is lots of extra space between the columns of tyres. These spaces are filled with used cardboard. The tyres and cardboard form the outside walls of an earthship. The inside walls between rooms in the earthship do not need to be as strong as the outside walls; therefore, the inside walls are made with old cans, bottles, and cement that are eventually covered and painted to look just like walls in a typical home.

Another benefit of an earthship is that it saves energy and natural resources. For example, an earthship uses less water. Rain water, collected on the roof, is used for drinking and bathing. Furthermore, earthships need much less energy for heating and cooling because they are built into the ground, which keeps the temperature inside the house from getting too hot or too cold. As well, one wall of an earthship usually faces south. Therefore, solar heat helps to warm the house, and solar panels built on the roof generate electricity to run appliances in the house. Earthships are very environmentally friendly, that’s why they have become popular throughout the world.

2.1. WRITE A COMPOSITION ANSWERING THIS QUESTION: (2.5 points)

Have housing and accommodation become a major problem in many cities around the world? (Approximately 120 words)