Singapore tests alternatives to air conditioning

Singapore is testing alternatives to conventional air conditioning as it looks for ways to reduce energy use in one of Southeast Asia's most air-conditioned societies.

About 99 percent of private homes in the city-state have air conditioners. Studies cited in the item say Singapore's building sector accounts for one-fifth of its emissions, while cooling makes up 40 to 60 percent of a building's energy use.

Some buildings are using active chilled beams, ceiling panels with cooling coils that circulate chilled water and cool nearby air. At the Paya Lebar Green office building in eastern Singapore, DP Architects said the system cut energy use by more than 30 percent compared with conventional air conditioning.

A ports authority maintenance building at Tuas harbour uses passive displacement cooling, which relies more on natural airflow and less on mechanical fans. Other options include radiant cooling and hybrid cooling, which pairs fans with air conditioning set to a higher temperature.

A 2024 government study identified alternative cooling technologies as a key strategy and found they could save Singapore up to 48 percent in energy. Building authorities said at least 33 public and 14 private buildings had adopted the technologies by mid-2026.

Supporters say the systems cost more to install but can reduce running costs. Chua Zi Jun, a director at DP Architects, said public acceptance remains a challenge because many office users are used to lower air-conditioned temperatures.

Wan Man Pun, a cooling technology expert at Nanyang Technological University, said the technologies are a step in the right direction, but added that no alternative cooling method has yet been found with higher efficiency than vapour compression, the principle used in traditional air-conditioning systems.