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Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effects: Case Studies and Solutions
Cool Coating on Building Facades to Reduce Heat Island Effects in Public Housing
APAQ Group lead a research study for the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to assess the performance of heat-reflective paints on building facades in public housing. This was the largest ever study of this kind worldwide to create a more comfortable public housing environment, and to reduce the demand for air-conditioning usage in the rising heat of climate change.
APAQ Group deployed around 200 sensors in 58 locations in the Tampines housing estate to gather data on air temperature, relative humidity, wind, heat flux, globe temperature, surface temperature, and to establish the effectiveness of cool paints versus conventional paints in improving the thermal comfort. APAQ Group’s service included remote data collection, data management, data analysis and even social perception survey to the residents. Upon the successful verification of the effectiveness, cool paints are being rolled out in the Green Towns Programme, HDB’s key sustainability initiative aiming to reduce energy consumption of public housing estates by a 15% by 2030 from 2020 levels.
Sensor Network for National University of Singapore’s Campus Cooling Initiative
APAQ Group was engaged by the National University of Singapore (NUS) to provide comprehensive supply, installation, maintenance and data management services with a campus-wide sensor network. The network of 40 micro-climate stations, 6 infra-red cameras and 3 multi-level meteorological towers were completed and fully operational since early 2024, to help evaluate NUS’ long-term strategies to cool the campus environment, as one of the four pillars of the university’s Campus Sustainability Roadmap 2030.
The sensor network provided almost real-time data to the researchers, to track the baseline of the environmental conditions, and to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of various passive and active cooling measures, including extensive planning of trees on campus to provide shading, vertical greening, cool paint/pavement, dry mist spray and ventilation systems. Based on the micro-climate data, students can even choose the running route on campus with the best thermal comfort! (https://www.coolnus-beam.sg/)
Reference Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Monitoring for Public Health
Reflecting the combined effects of hot temperature, humidity and solar radiation, Wet Bult Globe Temperature (WBGT) index is one of the most widely-used actionable indicator of outdoor heat stress to protect people engaged in outdoor work or sports activities against the risks of exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke.
Based on the requirement of the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA)’s meteorological service department, APAQ Group delivered the first outdoor WBGT monitoring system with ISO7243 compliant sensors made by our strategic partner, LSI Lastem srl (Italy).
Following long-term verification of sensor performance, NEA has published health advisory information to the public based on outdoor WBGT readings in July 2023. These systems were progressively rolled out in sports stadiums and military camps around Singapore, totalling more than 50 sites in 2024.
Heat Stress Management
Solution for Industries
Building on the initial success with government institutions, APAQ Group is working on the optimum monitoring system for process chemical, manufacturing plants and construction sites in Singapore.
In 2024, responsible market leaders including Micron and Singapore Refining Company have adopted their own on-site WBGT monitoring system, which come with remote communication, alarm system and tailored data analytics to the user.
APAQ Group is actively engaging with regulators and partners to set a market standard for the best balanced protection of safety and outdoor productivity in the tropical region.
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