The numbers all point in the same direction: air conditioning provides great comfort, but the associated energy consumption is only growing. Many developments seek to make air conditioning more efficient, but a new project led by researchers at the University of California is tackling the problem from a different angle: developing smart clothing designed to personalize the cooling or heating of its wearer.
The Problem with Air Conditioning
Few things are as personal as feeling cold or hot. An air conditioner set to 21 degrees can have one person sweating and another shivering. Regardless of the individual, something remains constant: energy consumption. Keeping the brutal summer heat at bay or using the heating function when winter bites generates exactly the same problem, which translates into an ever-increasing energy budget. The U.S. Department of Energy has a very interesting statistic: 5 percent of all electricity produced in the United States is devoured by air conditioning. Countries like China and India have notably increased equipment sales in recent years, but this implies burning more coal and diesel.
The ATTACH Project
Another problem with air conditioning is that it provides a one-size-fits-all solution. Developing a personalized heating and cooling platform is not simple, but a group of researchers at the University of California believes the key lies in creating smart clothing that dynamically adjusts the insulation level. In other words: If the room temperature is low, the polymer-based fabric would increase its thickness, and in a heat wave, that same fabric would become thinner. The project, named ATTACH, aims to maintain the wearer's skin temperature at around 34 degrees Celsius.
Potential Savings
If ATTACH succeeds, the initial energy savings are estimated at 15 percent, and if active wearable heating and cooling components are incorporated into the smart clothing (thermoelectric elements accompanied by batteries), that saving could be even greater. The project leaders state that the price of each garment will be directly linked to production, although low cost is one of the priorities.
