Businesses here turn blind eye to energy conservation

SINGAPORE is a paradox when it comes to temperatures. My foreign friends never fail to remark how we are 'summer outside, winter inside'. This overuse of air-conditioning indoors continues despite efforts by the authorities to advise on suitable temperatures for air-conditioning.

Our need for temperature balance is indeed unique. In fact, extensive air-conditioning, which once reflected a sophisticated office culture, is now widespread.

We carelessly leave doors to air-conditioned spaces open, at the expense of the building management. We design shops without effective mechanisms to reduce the amount of cold air escaping. It is ironic to see kitchens in shopping malls enjoying air-conditioning, while turning up the heat to cook. The worst example was a branded convenience shop chain in the heartland designed with its freezer right next to its open doors.

While we try to persuade individuals to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption, businesses have been left to waste energy and pass on higher costs to their customers.

Their enormous consumption of electricity puts stress on the infrastructure and resources used to generate electricity. This translates to higher power bills for households too.

I hope the Building and Construction Authority will work on guidelines to ensure that businesses conserve energy in the aftermath of the economic downturn.

Ong Lip Hua