Take more steps to conserve energy, reduce noise, HDB

The Home Improvement and Neighbourhood Renewal programmes to make Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats and towns continually liveable is laudable, as the maintenance of public housing in many countries is often neglected after some time.

The HDB could take a step further in these programmes to also focus on energy conservation for households and reduction of noise from busy road junctions, bus interchanges and train tracks near homes.

For example, it could offer, as a cost-sharing option in its flat improvement programme, to replace owners’ sliding windows with casement ones that allow for more natural ventilation as every window can then be opened.

Sun panels could be installed at blocks that do not have them. An extra layer of plastering could be applied externally to reduce the sun’s heat from permeating through the walls. These could help households reduce their energy consumption if fans and air conditioners are used less often.

Finally, noise from identified sources could be reduced by installing barriers, including tall trees with thick crowns. This would also lead to a greener environment.