Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1533930
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), infrastructures like buildings and roads absorb and re-emit the sun's heat to a greater degree than natural rural landscapes. is UHI effect exacerbates clothing comfort. erefore, it is vital that future innovative textile developments reflect and enhance prospective cooling performance qualities for all wearing apparel. Noting these issues, Dr. Po-Chun Hsu, Supervising Research Professor, and Dr. Ronghui Wu, Postdoctoral Researcher, at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME), were inspired to design and build a carefully engineered, passive-radiative cooling textile that would address their environmental concerns. e project began in 2022, to develop passive clothing that would help the human body stay cool, particularly in hot outdoor surroundings. UChicago PME's research team recognizes that a spectrum-selective textile, designed to reduce heat-retention in fabrics, makes it possible for the body to be protected from high temperatures that could otherwise increase the risk for heat-related diseases. "e average surface temperature across the contiguous United States has risen and is approximately 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit higher, BEAT THE HEAT The Univ. of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering Develops Fabric to Reduce Heat. By Kathlyn Swantko EDUCATION/UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO 28 • Textile Insight ~ Spring 2025 textileinsight.com University of Chicago PME's cooling textile promotes people's adaptation to hot environments. G lobal temperature changes and warmer climatic conditions have created a greater need for textile innovations that address heat-related issues in wearing apparel, particularly for inner-city environments. Based on United Nations data, 8.2 billion of the world's people (55%) live in metropolitan areas. is urbanization of global residents is projected to rise to 68% by 2050. Known as the "urban heat islands" (UHI) effect, these metropolitan areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas.