Home & Decor

Our founding father Lee Kuan Yew once mentioned in an interview that air conditioning was one of the factors that helped to increase productivity in Singapore, “Air conditioning was a most important invention for us, perhaps one of the signal inventions of history. It changed the nature of civilization by making development possible in the tropics. Without air conditioning you can work only in the cool earlymorning hours or at dusk. The first thing I did upon becoming prime minister was to install air conditioners in buildings where the civil service worked. This was key to public efficiency.” Not only has air conditioning been a boon to the country’s commercial sector, it has also improved the lives of homeowners living in this densely populated island. Yet, with growing concerns over climate…

I think the aircon is one of the greatest inventions in the 20th-century,” says Rene Tan, founder and principal architect of RT+Q Architects. He is joking, he says, but this is true for a great many denizens of Singapore, especially on a sweltering day, where we can’t wait to take refuge inside the nearest air-conditioned room. Nonetheless, aircon should be used sparingly to control the indoor climate of your home. The MVP should be your home’s ventilation system, allowing air to flow through your space, creating a breathable space. “To use the word “breathable” to describe ventilation of spaces tells how vital it is,” says Quck Zhong Yi, architect and partner at Asolidplan. “If a space can’t breathe, its occupants stifle.” Building or renovating a house with a well-working ventilation system…

“Heat can come in from different sources, but there needs to be a way to remove it. That is how a space can be cooled, or more cross ventilation can be induced,” says Gwen. “Even if a house can’t be naturally ventilated, some tools and fittings can be used to help.” These are some of her recommendations. CONVENTIONAL FITTINGS • Ceiling fans to help circulate the air. • External blinds to reduce the heat on glass. • Louvre system for breathable skin. UNCONVENTIONAL FITTINGS • Heat pump water heater It uses less electricity and cools the air, and reduces humidity as it heats up the water. So, when placed in the right location within the house, it can create a space that’s a few degrees cooler than the outdoors – helpful in rooms where there are…

AIR CONDITIONERS These state-of-the-art air conditioners (ACs) will keep you comfortable as they regulate the temperature without draining much power. MIDEA INVERTER SINGLE SPLIT AIRCON MSEOD-09/MSEID-09(S) Installation and cleaning are a breeze with this Midea unit. The filter, main panel, chassis, and blades can easily be removed for maintenance. A key feature is the Follow Me function, which measures the ambient temperature around you and directs cool air to you accordingly. Pretty impressive. Retails for $1,099 at all Courts stores. “GOOD DESIGN ALLOWS THE WIND TO CIRCULATE THROUGH THE HOME. FOR HIGH CEILINGS, IT HELPS TO HAVE VENTILATION AT THE TOP SO THE HEAT CAN DISSIPATE. YOU CAN ALSO CONSIDER CHANGING THE WINDOWS TO DOUBLE-GLAZED GLASS OR INSTALL SOLAR FILMS TO REDUCE HEAT.”– DESS CHEW, THREE-D CONCEPTWERKE Retails from $2,918 at Best Denki, Courts, Harvey Norman,…

FANS VS. AIR CONDITIONERS In South-east Asia, the heat and humidity are ever present and sometimes even unyielding, making cooling solutions like a fan or an air conditioner a necessity. Of course, each cooling solution has its merits and drawbacks. Air conditioners are the best appliance to combat against the potent heat. They do, however, consume up to 10 times as much power as a conventional fan. As such, it is neither the most economical option nor the greenest solution to cooling. Though modern technology has mitigated some of that problem, there is still much to do. The two appliances cannot be more different. Simpler in design and function, fans simply move cool or warm air around. Because of their simple mechanics, they are inherently more economical to run with usage numbers air…

As our homes become a place for work, sleep, exercise and play, many of us are spending more time indoors. With poor indoor air quality associated with adverse health and well-being, it is increasingly a concern. So how does indoor air become dirty in the first place? Gases and contaminants often accumulate. Off-gassing occurs when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) escape from furniture, paints, and cleaning products. Common VOCs include formaldehyde, benzene and toluene. Formaldehyde, for instance, is a colourless gas often released by furniture, wooden products with formaldehyde-based resins like plywood, floor lacquers, and many plastic products. Studies show that exposure to VOCs can lead to such symptoms as headaches and fatigue. Common allergens that trigger asthma symptoms include mould, bacteria, mites and dust that accumulate or get trapped in crevices and soft…