Improving air conditioning: How it can help Singaporeans reduce their carbon footprint | Rare Techy

Air-conditioning with low emissions

Air conditioning is everywhere in Singapore. According to the Bureau of Statistics, about 80 percent of Singapore’s households have air conditioners, and from the NEA household energy index, air conditioning accounts for 24 percent of the household electricity bill.

With rising incomes and warming temperatures, gas ownership and use of gases will increase.

Globally, the use of greenhouse gases produces nearly two million tons of carbon dioxide each year, or 4 percent of the world’s share. So there is a growing need to reduce the carbon footprint from more efficient air conditioning systems.

The reduction in energy consumption from CCS contributes to Singapore’s carbon footprint reduction commitments. Singapore aims to accelerate its timeline to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increasing emissions by 2030 and achieving zero emissions by 2050.

Although Singapore’s carbon emissions represent a small share of the world (0.13 percent in 2020), Singapore’s carbon emissions are very high, nearly double the global average of 12 tons every year. If Singaporeans can significantly reduce their carbon emissions, it will show how people can prevent climate change without significantly reducing their quality of life.

Mr Liu is making his contribution to helping Singapore achieve its climate goals. “The CCS we are building will allow the residents of Tengah to reduce their carbon footprint through an energy-efficient heating system. Just by living in the village, each resident has already started to life journey. This is a motivating factor for every engineer working on the Tengah project.

“We started from scratch, and we’ve had our fair share of roadblocks along the way. With all the hard work we’ve put in, it’s great to see everything come to fruition. I’m glad to have the opportunity to pioneer in the city of Singapore to live smart and sustainable. I think this is my way to leave my mark – it’s green,” said Mr Liu.

Energy-efficient heating for a warming world

Leading the charge for better heating systems, SP Group implements a variety of heating systems in various sectors, both commercial and residential.

Its large district heating system in the CBD Marina Bay network will increase to cool 28 commercial buildings by 2026. Savings in energy consumption are estimated to decrease by approximately 20,000 tons of carbon emissions each year, equivalent to taking 17,672 cars off the road.

SP Group is setting up Singapore’s largest industrial district heating system for STMicroelectronics at the Ang Mo Kio Technopark. When operational in 2025, carbon emissions will be reduced by 120,000 tonnes per year.

The SP Group is also building a district cooling network in Tampines, where seven existing buildings will be upgraded by 2025.

Moving the world into the future

In addition to its role as the nation’s grid operator, SP Group is committed to sustainability initiatives as an integral part of Singapore’s climate strategy. Its climate projects include a nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging network, rooftop solar power generation, and smart energy metering to monitor and reduce usage.

The SP Group has also exported these technologies to overseas markets where there is demand for sustainable energy solutions. The SP Group has gained expertise in building heating and district heating systems, smart metering and solar power generation in major cities in China, Thailand and Vietnam.