Too much heat makes you ill. All experts agree on this. They also agree that action must be taken quickly to prevent acute heat problems from turning into a catastrophe. That is why the federal government wants to improve education and prevention. A national heat protection plan is intended to reduce the number of heat-related deaths. The problem is that even short-term heat protection measures such as heat warnings, urban water dispensers, setting up shelters or city plans with cool places alone will not be enough – and many measures cannot be implemented due to the time pressure. Especially as financing and implementation strategies have not yet been clarified in many cases. The new 3D technology COOLINE SX3 offers – similar to a fast-acting vaccine – immediately available, effective and affordable preventive heat protection. Without any side effects for people or the environment.
The latest weather models do not bode well. One “extreme summer” is set to follow the next. This is likely to have fatal consequences if action is not taken quickly enough. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), there were more than 4,500 heat-related deaths in Germany in 2022 alone. People over 65, people with pre-existing conditions, infants and young children are particularly affected. Even the body’s own cooling system of young, healthy people is overwhelmed at 40°C and above.
During hot spells, the healthcare system is put under greater strain, hospital admissions increase and more and more people are severely restricted in their well-being. Health experts are therefore calling for quick solutions that can be implemented in the short term. It is questionable whether the warning systems and preventive measures planned by the Federal Ministry of Health can be implemented “in compliance with federal responsibilities and with the involvement of all responsible parties”. There is usually no staff available to carry out the tasks of heat protection in hospitals, nursing homes or even at home. Setting up cold stores in cities is hardly logistically feasible – nor is spending hours or days in air-conditioned supermarkets, pharmacies or public buildings. And there is no air conditioning outdoors.
AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEMS - THE SUPER DISASTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
At the same time, fast, simple and affordable heat protection is becoming increasingly urgent for all of us – for some, it is even essential for survival.
Those who can afford it are buying an air conditioning system. The demand is increasing. According to the Federal Environment Agency, 120 to 130 million devices are sold every year. The dilemma: what can protect health and sometimes even save lives is becoming a disaster for the environment. Because air conditioners threaten to make the climate crisis even worse. Greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, electricity consumption and heat island effects in cities are increasing dramatically. Although air conditioning systems work in a similar way to a refrigerator, they require significantly more electricity and therefore contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. They also heat up the world even further with their exhaust air. Toxic refrigerants such as the partially fluorinated hydrocarbon R32 do the rest.
Air conditioning systems are already responsible for emissions of around 1 gigaton of CO2 and over 8% of total global electricity consumption. And the trend is upward. Last year, CO2 emissions caused by the global energy sector reached a new record high.
DECISION BETWEEN HUMAN LIFE AND CLIMATE PROTECTION?
This dilemma raises the question of whether we will have to choose between human life and climate protection in the future. Ulm-based entrepreneurs Gabriele Renner and Sabine Stein are convinced of the opposite. They have developed a solution for health and the environment that has no side effects. The new 3D technology from Ulm offers – similar to a vaccination – a simple, quick and preventative way of cooling that is immediately available to everyone. Completely without side effects, but climate-friendly, easy to use for everyone and affordable.
SO THAT HEALTH PROTECTION DOES NOT BECOME A CLIMATE KILLER
The high-tech cooling system is the high-performance COOLINE SX3 fabric, which provides maximum flexibility in seconds with up to 660 watts of cooling – whenever and wherever it is needed. Boosting is possible at any time. Only air and water are used as coolants. According to the climate experts at climate partner (report), all COOLINE SX3 products save up to 97% CO2 compared to air conditioning systems.
Built into cooling vests and shirts, cooling scarves, cool baseball caps and arm and leg cooling, anyone can easily cool themselves for up to 8 hours. Actively cooling towels, duvets and plaids provide additional relief at home. A water tap and a towel are sufficient in all cases.
A heat emergency vest and a heat emergency case have also been developed for acute heat problems. In a heat emergency, it is important to act immediately. If heat problems are not noticed and treated in time, this can, in the worst case, mean death. The vest with smart fibers and the COOLINE SX3 high-tech fleece is cut so that it fits everyone and can be quickly and easily pulled over the head in an emergency situation and is immediately ready for use. The heat emergency case offers effective first aid that combines all the necessary measures so that you can help on the spot without delay. An E.COOLINE cooling blanket that can be activated anywhere in seconds and is dry – activation water included – can save lives and prevent secondary illnesses. Drinking water and electrolytes prevent dehydration, easy-to-use heat diagnostics and other equipment tools help to provide the necessary support until emergency services arrive on site.
Outdoors, cooling textiles are almost the only way to keep those affected cool. The high-tech material also ensures climate-neutral and environmentally friendly cooling in living and outdoor areas with cooling curtains or room dividers including shading on windows and doors – and possibly also on roofs or facades.
A SOLUTION ALREADY EXISTS
The cooling effect of the COOLINE SX3 products MADE IN GERMANY has been confirmed by HOHENSTEIN and their effectiveness and sustainability proven. Cooling vests and the like are already recommended and promoted for hot workplaces by the German statutory accident insurance and several professional associations. Studies by universities and research institutes – including in the health sector – are also available.
pervormance itself reduces its CO2 footprint through the upcycling of waste fibers, the use of green electricity, short transport and production routes, regional production, reusable packaging, and Gold Standard climate protection projects, which means the company has been climate neutral since 2013.
An effective, sustainable and immediately implementable heat protection solution already exists. Now politicians and administrators are required to integrate this into their heat action plans as best as possible and to coordinate implementation as quickly as possible.
