Written answer by Ministry of National Development on centralised cooling system in the Tengah estate

Feb 6, 2024

Question No: 5366

Question by: Ms Hazel Poa

To ask the Minister for National Development (a) how many households who have collected their keys in the Tengah estate have signed up for the centralised cooling system; (b) of these households, how many have reported issues with the centralised cooling system, such as water leaks and airflow problems; and (c) how much has been spent by SP Group to rectify these issues.

Answer:

Tengah Town is Singapore’s first smart and sustainable town, planned with green and sustainable features, and smart technologies. One such initiative is the development of a Centralised Cooling System (CCS) in Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats in collaboration with the Singapore Power Group (SP Group). The CCS pilot at Tengah provides HDB homebuyers the option to subscribe to a more energy-efficient cooling solution, compared to conventional air-conditioning systems. The keys for the first few precincts of HDB flats in Tengah have been progressively handed over to residents since end August 2023. 

2.             SP Group, as the provider of the CCS, undertakes the management of CCS sign-ups, as well as construction, installation, operations, and maintenance of the CCS. As of end December 2023, about 2,500 of the households that have been informed to collect keys have signed up for the CCS. MND and HDB are aware of feedback from some Tengah residents relating to water seepage and condensation, and SP Group has put in place a systematic reporting and rectification process to resolve these issues as quickly as possible. SP Group has also looked into other feedback received from residents about the CCS, and while it has resolved the majority of the defects, it is working closely with residents to address the remaining feedback. SP Group has also waived CCS charges for the whole of 2023 as a goodwill gesture, even as they work on addressing some of the CCS installation and user experience issues. SP Group is unable to share more details on its project operating costs.

3.             As we implement and pilot new systems at scale, like the CCS in Tengah, we can expect some teething issues to surface. However, these do not detract from the sustainability or technological viability of the CCS. HDB will continue to monitor the feedback on the CCS, and support SP Group to ensure the smooth roll-out of CCS in Tengah.