Singapore is a tropical country with a warm and humid climate. As such, many people overly rely on the usage of air conditioners. As a result, electricity usage throughout the country are sky high. We intend to educate the public and introduce means of energy conservation through wiser methods of using air conditioners.

Studies show that the sales of air-conditioners throughout the world are reaching an all-time high and are increasing more in Asia as compared to other continents.

Singapore depends heavily on air-conditioning to cool its buildings all year round. This applies especially to workplaces where ventilation and air quality have to be maintained and where equipment has to be kept cool. In fact, one third of the annual utility bill goes towards air-conditioning in commercial/industrial buildings, of which offices are arguably the most numerous. This amounts to $ 771 million for air conditioning alone.

Also, due to the effects of global warming, people are increasingly turning to air-conditioning for comfort. This is actually a vicious cycle, because air-conditioning produces emissions that can damage the ozone layer, thus worsening global warming.

Air-conditioners don’t just consume large amounts of energy and increase our carbon footprints. Emissions from refrigerants used in air conditioning (CFC’s, HCFC’s or HFC’s) are harmful as well, adversely impacting ozone levels and global climate. In fact, refrigeration and air conditioning related emissions represent almost 64% of all CFC’s and HCFC’s produced (AFEAS, 2001)

Therefore, it can be seen that the widespread usage of air-conditioners in Singapore will almost certainly contribute significantly to global warming, an obviously important issue to a small island nation that might sink underwater if the sea level continues to rise.

· Avoid placing heat-generating appliances near the thermostat, which may cause the air-conditioning unit to operate longer than necessary.

· Clean air filters once a month or replace them when necessary. Dirty air filters impede air flow, leading to increased energy consumption.

· Regularly service your air-conditioning units.

· Shade your air-conditioner’s outdoor heat exchanger without blocking the airflow; direct sunlight on the exchanger results in solar heat gain and decreases its efficiency.

· Consider a multi-split system if you intend to cool more than one room. Ensure that the unit is the right capacity to match the amount of cooling required.

· The ideal temperature for a room is between 22.5-25.5 degrees, although NEA recently recommended that indoor temperatures be set at the higher end of this range. These temperatures are comfortable for most people while minimizing energy consumption.

· Use the minimum required quantity of outdoor air. With room air conditioners, use the outside air setting only when absolutely necessary to remove odors.

· Check thermostats for proper operation using a reliable thermometer, not the thermometer in the thermostat. Thermostat thermometers are notoriously inaccurate, often by more than 2.7ºC, and can create problems if used by uninformed occupants to judge comfort.

· Control hot-spots in your house. It is unnecessary to overcool an entire zone to control temperatures in a single overheated location. Instead, reduce heat gain in the overheated area, or use a small portable fan to circulate the air from cooler

· Turn air conditioners off wherever possible; cool only the occupied rooms of your house.

· Keep drapes, blinds and shades closed to block solar gain. Focus on east windows during the morning, south windows from midmorning to midafternoon, and west windows during the afternoon. Thermal-lined curtains are excellent for insulation against both heat and cold.

Not only do you reduce your carbon footprint, go “green”, and help to save the environment – using the air-conditioner less = less energy consumption = lower utility bills! You may think the heat isn’t worth putting up with, but if you can save ten or twenty dollars each month, then why not? All it takes is raising the temperature by a few degrees.

Every small effort makes a big difference!