Heating or cooling people rather than buildings can save a lot of energy. A California non-profit, together with researchers from Stanford and UCLA, is developing footwear that will keep people comfortable in unsuitable environments. The ReBOOT system uses a low-voltage battery that powers a pump that moves water through a shoe insert made of thermally conductive materials to manage heat transfer from the soles of the feet and fans that keep the water at room temperature, even as the body tries to heat the water to body temperature. Research shows that wearables that heat or cool the feet can heat or cool the body ten times faster than standard devices such as cooling vests or thermal blankets.
Shoes that cool or heat people save a lot of energy
More of Today's Solutions
How this city in Illinois plans to stop homelessness by the end of the year
Less than a decade ago, more than 700 people were homeless in the small, 150,000 person city of Rockford, Illinois, about 90 miles northwest ...
Read MoreThis map shows what Indigenous land you live on
If you’ve attended a virtual lecture or presentation lately you may have noticed that the speakers initiated the event with an acknowledgment of which ...
Read MoreMore on beavers and rewilding
We decided to dust off and update this innovative solution to restoring habitats with the most industrious aquatic mammal: beavers. At The Optimist Daily, ...
Read More9 driving changes you can make to save more and burn less
Gas prices keep going up. While many of us can’t yet afford an electric vehicle, and we still need to get places, there are ...
Read More
