Tougher policy could help Singapore achieve better energy efficiency

WHEN I lived in London, I first moved into a property built in 1998. It had been fully refurbished the year before I arrived, which means the walls had fresh paint and the sinks had mixer taps.

The building’s insulation, however, left a lot to be desired. I was eternally cold, and finally resorted to buying a portable oil-filled radiator to prevent my feet from freezing under my desk.

Later, I moved into a building built in 2008 by a developer that prides itself on energy-efficient homes. I wore shorts and T-shirts in my flat in winter. When I moved out, I still didn’t know how to turn the heating on.