Building and household operations, such as heating and cooling, are major contributors to global warming. It uses a massive amount of electricity and accounts for 28 per cent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
American material science company, Lifelabs, used a novel approach through specialised textiles and launched thermal shirts that adapt to the body’s temperature, reducing the need for heaters or air-conditioning.
The thermal shirts, dubbed Warmlife and Coolife, are made from recycled fabric such as nylon, polyurethane, and polyester, combined with patented technology from Stanford University that allows the fabric to adapt to the body’s temperature.
According to the company, Warmlife works by combining a small percentage of aluminium to reflect 100 per cent of the body heat onto the wearer’s skin. In addition, uses 30 per cent less material than similar insulating clothing – making it lighter and producing less carbon footprint.
On the other hand, Coolife works by using a thermally transparent Polyethylene fabric that cools body temperature to less than 3 degrees Fahrenheit and allows the individual’s body heat to escape faster – producing an efficient cooling effect.
While the thermal clothing technology is not necessarily new, (Uniqlo offers clothing with its patented Heatech technology), Lifelabs offer a more sustainable approach to thermal wear by using recycled material, compared to the former’s rayon, polyester, and acrylic.
“The T-shirt is a quintessential item in every wardrobe, so we’re taking the simplicity of the basic T-shirt and re-engineering it into something more,” said Scott Mellin, CEO of LifeLabs. “Our thermal shirts are designed with a practical sensibility, and by using fewer materials and reduced energy usage, we’re also supporting a more sustainable lifestyle.”
