Degrees of danger

South-east Asia is one of the regions most vulnerable to rising temperatures caused by climate change and rapid urbanisation. What will it take to heat-proof the region? Experts at the First Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN) South-east Asia Heat Health Forum discuss how human health, well-being and livelihoods in the region can be protected in a warming world. SHABANA BEGUM and CHIN HUI SHAN look at key issues raised at the Jan 7 to 10 Forum, organised by the GHHIN South-east Asia Hub based at the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

- SHABANA BEGUM and CHIN HUI SHAN

To feel cooler on a hot day, set the air-conditioner at a higher temperature than you intended and also turn on the fan – doing this conserves energy, too.

The "hybrid cooling" solution was piloted at an office space in the Zero Energy Plus Building at the BCA Academy in Singapore.

Over 11 weeks, the office occupants were exposed to two indoor conditions – the office cooled to 26.5 deg C with ceiling fans running, and the space cooled to 24 deg C.

In the study published in 2023, they said that they found their comfort levels were similar in both scenarios.

As a bonus, the air-con plus fan method used 30 per cent less energy.

The pilot was led by the Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore.

One of its faculty members is Professor Stefano Schiavon, who highlighted the findings of the pilot in his lecture at the First Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN) South-east Asia Heat Health Forum on Jan 7.

He is professor of architecture and civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.

Using fans with air-con was one of numerous solutions that were discussed at the four-day conference, as heat health scientists, weather experts and policymakers convened to find ways to protect people living in a sweltering South-east Asia amid rising temperatures.