In the next three years, low-income households in central Singapore will have their light bulbs converted to energy-efficient alternatives.
The aim is to help them save a collective $160,000 in utilities bills.
And if successful, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said the project could be rolled out nationwide.
Madam Annie has been living with her sister in a one-room rental flat for six years.
The 62-year-old widow chalks up a monthly average of $60 on utility bills, and the switch to an energy-efficient bulb makes a difference.
“It (energy-efficient bulb) makes the house look brighter, and it’s going to last longer I’ve heard. It’s going to save me about $2 a month and about $20 to 24 a year,” said Madam Annie, a Jalan Bukit Merah resident.
Her unit was one of 224 flats that went through the conversion, as part of a community environment pilot project by the Central Singapore Community Development Council, Maybank Singapore, and the NEA.
Like Madam Annie, 4,000 more low-income households in the central Singapore district will have the new bulbs installed in their rental flats. The aim is to promote good energy-saving habits, and to help them reduce their consumption on electricity.
The district-wide programme, called S.W.I.T.C.H, which stands for “Simple Ways I Take To Change My Habits”, was launched at this year’s Central Singapore Clean and Green carnival by Information, Communications and the Arts Minister, Associate Professor Yaacob Ibrahim.
The hope is also for them to be aware of their responsibility to conserve energy.
Sam Tan, Mayor of Central CDC, said: “My guess is that some are aware but some are not. So it is precisely that, that we need to implement this project from the ground, to take the opportunity to explain to the households… the message of environmental conservation.”
Grassroots volunteers and those of corporate sponsor Maybank, will be helping with the installation of the bulbs. They will also be sharing energy-saving tips with the residents.
Andrew Tan, CEO of NEA, said: “We certainly hope to see more corporate sponsors coming on board, doing this as part of their CSR (corporate social responsibility) and also contribute to keeping Singapore clean and green.
“Depending on the success of this effort, we’ll be happy to roll it out to other parts of Singapore and we’ll ask everyone to chip in and do their part.”
Two bulbs will be installed in each household, starting with those living in Tanjong Pagar GRC.
