How to Keep Cool in Singapore’s Weather?
Situated just slightly north of the equator, Singapore is no stranger to scorching temperatures. In fact, we just lived (and sweat) through the warmest decade (2013–2022) on record. In May 2023, a blazing hot 37 deg C was recorded at Ang Mo Kio, matching a 40-year record for the highest daily maximum temperature.
To battle the heat and humidity, air-conditioners have been a go-to solution for many, with about 80% of Singapore households owning at least one unit. While air-conditioners are a quick fix for cooling down, their carbon emissions are astronomical compared to other household appliances. Carbon emissions trap heat and contribute to rise in temperatures so an overreliance on air-conditioners might just be creating a cyclical heat problem. Air-conditioners are also huge energy guzzlers, which means your wallet is going to take a big hit.
If you’re looking for more sustainable (and cost-saving) ways to keep cool in the Singapore heat, here are nine things you can do.
1. Cross-ventilate
Instead of the usual ritual of shutting your doors and windows before switching on your air-conditioner at full blast, try the opposite. Open a window on the windier side of your home and let the breeze find its way out through the opposing window or door. Think of it as a simple trick that swaps out the stale, hot air with fresh, cool exterior wind.
2. Know your fans
Contrary to what we might think, fans do not actually cool air. Instead, they move air around the space, improving sweat evaporation, thus helping you feel cool. Feeling the heat in your house? Position a fan face out of your home and blow the hot air out. Make sure nearby windows and openings are closed so the hot air is forced to travel out.
You can can also improve ventilation by opening windows in rooms farther away from the fan. This works best if the windows are in cooler, shaded spots of the house so that cool air breezes in as the hotter air is pulled outside by the outward facing fan.
Of course, if you’re looking to simply cool yourself down, sitting directly in front of a fan is always a good way to go.
3. Block out the sun
If the heat is coming from outside, simply keeping your blinds closed or curtains drawn can help keep your home cool. Choose neutral-coloured curtains with white plastic backings as they reduce heat gain. You could also invest in black-out curtains to insulate your home.
4. Have a cold (or hot) drink
It is important to stay hydrated to replenish the minerals we lose through sweat in hot weather. An ice cold drink can help you cool off momentarily, while a hot drink will raise your core temperature initially before triggering a sweat response and as sweat evaporates off your skin, you cool down.
5. Take a warm shower
This seems counter-intuitive but it can actually help cool you down. A warm shower boosts blood flow to the skin which increases heat loss. Why not a cold shower? When our body is cooled, it tries to regulate our core temperature and this might just leave us feeling hotter than before.
6. Get a houseplant or two
Like how sweating can cool us down, plants also “sweat” through a process called transpiration. This happens when moisture from the plants is released into the surroundings, cooling both the plant and the air around it.
7. Dress light
Sweltering sun outside? Ditch dark-coloured and thick garments for lighter fits. Breathable fabrics such as cotton and linen are good as they allow more air to pass through and prevent heat from being trapped against the skin.
8. A cool night’s sleep
Like with clothing, avoid bedsheets made from synthetic materials and choose breathable materials such as cotton, linen, silk or bamboo. Also, switch off your electronic devices because they emit heat. A more drastic measure you could take is to move your mattress to the floor. As the science goes, hot air rises, so sleeping closer to the ground is cooler.
Keeping cool outdoors
The urban heat island effect, which terms how urban areas are warmer than rural areas, is something Singapore has to manage. Hence, built environments in Singapore adopt various design strategies to ensure thermal comfort; from varying building heights that channels air downwards, permeable building forms that encourage air flow through and around buildings, to arranging streets and corridors around urban breezeway patterns to enable good airflow while dispersing heat all at the same time.
Similarly, new HDB towns and estates optimise key wind corridors, have strategic building layouts and orientations for improved natural ventilation, even down to identifying key hotspots for enhanced greenery placement.
On top of larger-scale efforts to combat the rising temperatures, we can also contribute towards long-term sustainability goals. Whether it is emitting less carbon emissions by selecting eco-friendly appliances, or taking part in sustainable activities like urban farming, our individual actions can help keep Singapore and our homes a little cooler.
Looking for more ideas on living sustainably? Try these reads.
Things You Can Do: How to Fight Climate Change and Reduce Waste
A beautifully illustrated book based on award-winning climate journalist Eduardo Garcia’s popular New York Times Column “One Thing You Can Do”. It’s a user-friendly guide to everyday things we can do to fight climate change.
Get the book here: Physical copy, eBook
How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Simple Ways to Live a Planet-Friendly Life
Harriet Dyer’s book is an accesible read filled with achievable ways you can reduce your carbon footprint. From tips on creating a more eco-friendly home to ways to reduce your plastic use, the book helps you discover how to make planet-friendly choices and live a more sustainable life.
Get the book here: Physical copy, eBook
Text by
National Library Board
