A Singaporean’s Inability to Cope With Summer
And no, it’s not just about the lack of aircon
It reached 30ºC in London and my tropical body got a rude shock. Coming from Singapore, I’ve experienced way hotter temperatures and humidity on a daily basis. Why does 30ºC feel so horrible then?
The lack of aircon is an obvious reason. To be honest, I hardly used it back in Singapore. I have quite a high tolerance for heat so I was really surprised to find myself suffering on that 30ºC day.
This got me thinking and I realised, it’s not just about the aircon. But first, let’s talk about it.
Air-conditioning or human conditioning?
Aircon usage is rampant in Singapore. It used to be a luxury back when I was a kid — there was only one aircon unit at home and it would be a treat for the entire family to switch it on for a few hours. Fast forward to today, it’s common to have 4 to 5 aircon units in a 4-room flat (approx. 1000 sqft) and have them turned on at one’s whim.
Working from home? *beep*
Having friends over? *beep*
The kids wanna nap?*beep*
Turn on the aircon.
In Singapore, you’ll meet people who struggle to fall asleep without using one. There are also those who would be unwilling to dine at a place not for having bad reviews, but because it has no aircon. People spend hours at bus interchanges, malls, libraries and even the airport to enjoy the cool air. It has been so ingrained in our lifestyles, most of us simply cannot imagine a life in Singapore without it. Access or excess?
On the flip side, the London I know has very little of it. Not in homes, nor on the buses. The tube is not fully air-conditioned either. It can get stuffy as hell. Comparatively, I had very little access to pockets of cool air while on my commute. Maybe that’s what made the suffering apparent.
The lifestyle is also vastly different between the two cities. In London, people spend time in pubs, parks, markets and at outdoor events during summer. In Singapore, people meet indoors — at the mall, in restaurants or at each others’ homes where the aircon is always ready to serve.
The material’s not immaterial
After getting over the lack of air-conditioning, I started thinking about how else I can better cope with the heat.
Now that I have fewer chance encounters with the aircon, the type of fabric I wear matters. I’m not surprised at how many thin, soft, flowy silk-like clothing are in fact made with polyester — which is a no-go for hot weather. Actual silk would score differently. Natural fibres like cotton, linen and hemp are way more breathable and effective at absorbing moisture and drying quickly. I now find myself consciously choosing those in summer.
I noticed how my feet felt against the wooden floors in my rented flat. Nothing. Back in Singapore, my tiled floors would have provided me with a cool relief from the heat. I remember how nice it felt to be sitting on those floors on clammy afternoons.
And fans. Ceiling fans. Standing fans. Wall-mounted fans.
I miss those.
If not for salvaging the desk fan my old housemate discarded, I wouldn’t have been able to live as comfortably through the summer. There were multiple radiators in the flat to help cope with the cold but nothing to help cope with the heat — which was an inconvenience that made sense since most of the year is cool and gloomy.
The houses in London were built and furnished differently to accommodate different climates.
So, what can I do?
Old dog, new tricks
I needed new ways to keep cool at home.
Thankfully, summer in London is especially cool in the mornings so far. When I say cool, I mean 18ºC. I’ve learnt to open the windows to let the cool air in every morning and quickly shut them before it gets warm. It felt counter-intuitive to keep the windows shut when it’s hot, but things work differently here.
Plus, there are flies. Flies in Singapore zoom in and out of the house like lightning but those in London stay comfortably in the flat refusing to leave. Even insects behave differently.
Being in the shade also helps since it’s a lot less humid in London. I got Dexter-style black curtains to block out light in the afternoons. These are tips I learnt from my friends who lived in Europe long enough to perform these routines like clockwork during summer.
Heatwaves are grave
As I’m writing this, a study about heat-related deaths was published — over 61,000 lives were lost in Europe in 2022 due to the heat. News around the world are reporting about the record-breaking high temperatures they are experiencing. Wildfires are raging across Greece. Temperatures in parts of Italy and Spain have been forecasted to hit 48ºC. And sales of portable aircon units continue to soar.
Ironically, the device keeping us cool is also warming us up — it’s impossible for us to break the cycle if blasting the aircon is the only thing we rely on to cope with the heat.
It is vital for all of us to explore alternative solutions. Individuals can opt for a fan instead, plan ahead, take sun protection measures and drink lots of water. The government can provide cooling centres and hydration points, explore heat-reflective materials for buildings and pavements, and green the environment. Developers can support traditional architectural methods instead of churning out aircon-reliant glass boxes. Communities can raise heat awareness and share resources.
The heatwave will pass but not all of us will be around to enjoy the days after. While we care for one another, let’s keep the pressure on those in power.
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