A study by SUTD and other institutions reveals that nearly half of over 400 HDB flats in Singapore are warmer indoors than outdoors. Poor airflow, caused by building layouts and indoor clutter, disproportionately affects seniors and low-income families who have limited access to cooling.
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The bit about concrete walls releasing stored heat is the real killer here. Thermal mass is great for some climates, but in the tropics, it just turns the home into an oven after sunset. We need better materials or external shading, not just more fans.
True, but look at the voucher data. People aren't buying ACs because the subsidy is too small to cover the upfront cost. If the policy doesn't address the capital expenditure gap, the tech stays on the shelf regardless of how hot the walls get.
If the solution is just pushing more AC units into low-income flats, the grid load during peak heat will spike. I wonder what the actual capacity headroom is for these older estates if everyone suddenly starts cooling during the day.
That is why the focus should be on the passive stuff mentioned, like solar films and better ventilation. It is cheaper and doesn't crash the local transformer.
