Climate Vouchers Mask Guilt Over Buying Revenge Fridge 3 Times as Big as Old One

Drained by eco-anxiety, the writer consoles herself she's just buying what 'normal' households would.

- Denise Chong

I had been thinking of getting a same-sized replacement refrigerator, but after more than 15 years of not being able to make ice properly in my hand-me-down, I wanted a revenge fridge, so I used the green cred of climate vouchers worth $400 to hide my red-faced glee in getting one that is three times as big.

Giving in to eco-anxiety and giving up some green habits, at least for now, I gave myself the excuse that I was just buying what the normal or even green (hello, validated by climate vouchers!) households would by going from a mini fridge of around 100 litres capacity, which could barely swallow a weighty watermelon, to one that was more than 300 litres.

Generally, fridge sizes for smaller households range in capacity from 200 litres to 300 litres; French door types can go from more than 400 litres to 600 litres, which can eat up a couple of fictional cannibal Hannibal Lecter's victims, never mind just the choice cuts.

Thinking about the environment should figure into every consumer decision, but it is tiring to do so for, well, forever.

Some days, it is too exhausting to think about the planet warming up with melting ice caps.

Some days, I just have a plain vanilla wish of keeping a tiny tub of ice cream at home.

The climate vouchers, which I am metaphorically fanning to cool down my burning shame, are offered under a government programme meant to nudge Singapore households onto a green path.

Launched in 2020, the Climate Friendly Households Programme is a joint initiative by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and national water agency PUB. It aims to encourage households to take climate actions to be more efficient in their energy and water consumption, while saving on utility bills in the long run.