HDB to paint all existing flats with cool coatings that can reduce temperatures by up to 2°C

All existing HDB blocks in Singapore will be painted with cool coatings, a specialised paint that reflects the sun's heat, said HDB in a Feb. 3 statement.

Previously trialled in a 2021 pilot with 130 HDB blocks in Tampines, the coating was found to reduce the ambient temperature of the site by up to 2°C.

Residents living in blocks covered with cool paint were also found to consume less electricity, as less energy from air-conditioning systems was required.

The initiative will be rolled out to all existing estates by 2030.

Green towns

The cool paint is part of HDB's efforts to create more energy-efficient and climate-resilient public housing estates.

From this year, a number of other initiatives will also be rolled out under the same project.

This includes the installation of smart electrical sub-meters to better track and compare energy usage across HDB blocks, and the deployment of over 1,000 beverage container return points islandwide.

The latter, which includes "reverse vending machines" that give users S$0.10 for each container returned, will commence on Apr. 1, 2026.

The beverages will initially be priced S$0.10 higher, but this will be refunded once the consumers return the containers.

Apart from these, HDB also plans to upgrade and design the 38 HDB-managed shopping and office complexes by 2030 to reduce the buildings' carbon footprint.

The complexes — which include Bras Basah Complex and Limbang Shopping Centre — will be equipped with solar panels on the rooftop, energy- and water-efficient equipment, and machines to turn food waste into compost.

The changes will be rolled out to about eight complexes per year, HDB said.

Top image from Canva