Decreasing energy consumption by reducing the need for air conditioning helps combat CO2 emissions and promotes sustainability. Peng et al. present a remarkable scale-up of nanoporous polyethylene microfibers for use in cooling fabrics. These fabrics allow heat to radiate through them while reflecting visible light and can be engineered for wearability. The ability to scale up production is important for making this material cost-effective relative to cotton and other mass-produced textiles. Incorporating cooling fabrics into everyday wardrobes presents an opportunity to decrease indoor cooling.
Nat. Sustain. 10.1038/s41893-018-0023-2 (2018).
