When we think about Singapore, true Singaporeans know it’s not just about our favourite hawker fare, clean streets, and famously artificial airport with that raining vortex as its centre of attraction.
No.
It’s the heat.
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That ridiculous summer heat that comes 365 days a year, regardless of season. Coupled with the humidity – a double whammy – they hit your entire being especially hard from June to September where you’ll find yourself sweating buckets even while you’re doing absolutely nothing.
And if you’re one of the many living in Singapore’s public housing apartments, HDB flats, it seems that some reprieve is finally in sight.
Singapore Green Towns Programme (GTP)
Our city-state’s ten-year GTP is hitting its midpoint this year in 2025. This programme goes in tandem with the government’s aim of ramping up sustainability efforts to create more energy-efficient and climate-resilient public housing estates.
Under this programme, the cool coatings initiative will be expanded to all existing HDBs in Singapore and will also include new measures, such as Smart electric sub-meters.
What is the Cool Coatings Initiative?
Back in 2021, HDB and Tampines Town Council kickstarted a joint pilot project to apply cool coatings to around 130 blocks in Tampines. Cool coatings refer to a type of unique paint with additives capable of reflecting the sun’s glaring heat, reducing surface heat absorption and emission.
The aim of using this special paint is to lower the ambient temperature of the site by up to 2 degrees Celsius, thus boosting residents’ comfort while cutting back on energy consumption.
Sensors were installed on the blocks’ external facades and at the ground level to track ambient temperature and obtain data for analysis. The two-year pilot produced findings showing that the coatings met HDB’s target.
Since the successful pilot, HDB has decided to work with the Town Councils to implement this initiative to all HDB estates by 2030 (we can hear your groans about the five-year timeline, but hey, it’s better than nothing).
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And in case you’re worried, fret not – the government will be covering the costs for this paint, expected to be at S$60 million.
Other New Initiatives Under the GTP
Aside from this initiative, there will also be other measures implemented, such as:
- Smart Electric Sub-meters
From the second quarter of 2025, smart electrical sub-meters will be installed in HDB blocks’ consumer switch rooms, providing data about energy consumption patterns and the performance of common services at each block.
Town Councils can use this data to compare energy use across blocks, track the demand and supply of energy usage, optimise maintenance cycles of these services, and detect anomalies.
- Green Complexes
HDB will be upgrading and designing 38 HDB-managed complexes by 2030. These complexes will have solar panels installed on the rooftop, more energy-efficient equipment and fittings, water-efficient fittings, and machines to turn food waste into compost.
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Through these initiatives, HDB aims to achieve BCA Green Mark Super Low Energy (SLE) Certification for four HDB complexes in 2025.
- Beverage Container Return Points
A network of over 1,000 return points will be deployed across Singapore, including at HDB-owned and Town Council areas. This scheme will begin on 1 April 2026.
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