5 simple ways to cool your home during the hot weather
4-minute read
Similar to other parts of the world, Singapore is in the midst of a brutal heatwave, with temperatures hitting a high of 37°C in May 2023 (hot dang!). Temperatures are so concerning that NEA released a national advisory for people to take care while outdoors to reduce the risk of heatstroke.
The scarier part is that this is not a one-off event; it’s expected to continue. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, said temperatures across the island might soar to 40°C as early as 2045. This alarming heatwave results from the Urban Heat Island effect, in which urbanised zones experience higher temperatures than less built-up areas.
Because of heat and humidity, Singaporeans rely heavily on air conditioning, with most homes installing multi-room air-conditioning (AC) units. To us, retreating indoors and blasting the AC is the most obvious solution on a hot day. We stay cool – but at the expense of raising our electricity bills and harming our planet by, ironically, creating a “Catch-22” paradox.
Thanks to HDB’s foresight, sustainable efforts to combat the heat such as silicon-based roofs and district cooling are underway. Meanwhile, how can we stay cool at home while waiting for these initiatives to be completed?
Get creative and try these 5 easy ways to heat-proof your home without the financial burden or hassle of remodelling your home.
1. Block out sunlight
Besides warming up your home, sunlight entering through your windows can harm your skin and furniture. Using blackout curtains or blinds when the sun is out can lower the temperature in your house by up to 5°C.
For greater effectiveness, use light-coloured curtains or blinds to reflect more light, and avoid thicker curtains as they trap heat. An alternative is getting window films, with the tinted ones offering the added benefit of privacy.
2. Get the air moving
Don’t mistakenly turn your house into a furnace. Closing all doors and windows to shut heat out can actually cause a reverse effect. Instead, keep the air moving. Enable cross ventilation by opening doors and windows at opposite ends of your home to produce a cooling wind tunnel.
Turning on a fan can help with directing airflow. (Sadly, “aesthetic” bladeless fans aren’t that effective.) Ceiling fans are particularly helpful. When set to spin counter-clockwise, they direct cool air downwards. Apart from lowering your electricity bill, because they cover a larger surface area, ceiling fans can cool down your room by up to 5°C.
3. Be energy efficient
Incandescent light bulbs generate a higher temperature due to using tungsten wires. It may be affordable, but its usage leads to spending more on electricity and cooling. On the other hand, LED bulbs use less energy, last longer and light up a room without heating it.
Did you know that simply leaving our appliances running can warm up your home? Electricity produces heat, and the collective heat from all plugged-in appliances adds up. Turn off switches when not in use to cool the house down while preventing risks of spontaneous fires from short-circuiting.
Some appliances like washing machines and dryers emit alarmingly large amounts of heat. Consider using such appliances at cooler times of the day, like in the morning or at night. If you need to dry your clothes during the day, why not take advantage of the natural blazing hot sun?
4. Get a dehumidifier
Ever wonder why perspiring in Singapore feels so unpleasant? In humid Singapore, the air is too saturated with water to evaporate the moisture on your skin, trapping the heat within your body. This leaves you feeling sweaty and sticky instead of relief.
Dehumidifiers cool the room down by lowering its relative humidity level. They also protect your household items and improve cleanliness by making the space unconducive to mould growth and pests.
Before purchasing your dehumidifier, consider the space you’ll be placing it; the larger the room, the larger the dehumidifier should be. Optimise its effectiveness by placing it in the centre of the room, clear of obstructions like walls or furniture.
5. Grow indoor houseplants
An alternative for homeowners with green thumbs is indoor plants. They bring the humidity to optimum levels while cooling the air during transpiration. Additionally, plants purify and freshen the air around them when they emit oxygen during photosynthesis.
We recommend these cosy HDB-friendly houseplants to bring you joy and cooling comfort to your home without too much maintenance:
- Rubber Plant – Prefers indirect sunlight, requires little water, has large sturdy leaves for more cooling, elevates the aesthetic of a room
- Sansevieria – Prefers direct sunlight, requires monthly watering, stores a lot of water, has high levels of transpiration, purifies air
- Monstera – Prefers indirect sunlight, requires weekly watering, has vibrant broad leaves for more cooling and shade, an ideal centrepiece for your living room
- Aglaonema – Has high levels of transpiration, requires little water and sunlight, purifies the air, perfect for plant beginners
Protect your home with MSIG Enhanced HomePlus® insurance
With these handy cooling tips, braving the heat will be a breeze. Aside from feeling more comfortable, you’ll protect your home’s residents and objects from damaging UV rays. But for absolute surety that your home is secure, take the added precaution of safeguarding it with reliable home insurance.
MSIG Enhanced HomePlus® insurance offers all-around protection for your home and household contents. Our policy provides comprehensive coverage for home-related accidents, from renovation mishaps to furniture damage to even the loss of domestic pets.
From time to time, we have exclusive promotions on our insurance plans. View our latest deals here! Policy terms and conditions apply.
