The air-con nation is learning to chill differently

Singapore loves its air conditioning — it has the highest ownership rate in Southeast Asia, and cooling eats 40% to 60% of a typical building's energy. But in the eight-storey Paya Lebar Green building, the ceiling does the work more gently: chilled beams and radiant panels, fed by water cooled on the roof, hold offices at a comfortable 24°C while using far less power. A 2024 government study found such alternative cooling technologies could save the city up to 48% in energy, and by mid-2026 at least 33 public and 14 private buildings had adopted them. In a city that cannot open a window on the tropics, learning to cool with less is no small thing.

SDG 11 · Sustainable cities and communities — Mechanism: tech innovation