Singapore is committed to combating climate change, and a key initiative in this national effort is the Climate Friendly Households Programme, featuring the highly anticipated Climate Vouchers. These vouchers empower residents, across both HDB flats and private properties, to adopt more energy and water-efficient appliances, contributing to a greener Singapore and lower utility bills.
Initially launched in November 2020 for families in three-room or smaller HDB flats, the scheme has since expanded significantly. As of April 15, 2025, all eligible Singaporean households, regardless of whether they reside in HDB flats or private properties, receive a total of S$400 in Climate Vouchers. This includes the existing S$300 offered in 2024 and an additional S$100 from Budget 2025.
The beauty of the Climate Vouchers lies in their accessibility and flexibility. They come in a mix of denominations (S$2, S$5, S$10, and S$50) and can be claimed online via SingPass from April 15, 2025, until December 31, 2027. This long validity period allows households ample time to make informed choices about their purchases.
Image credit to NEA
How Climate Vouchers Benefit Households Across All Property Types
The expansion of the Climate Vouchers to include private property households signifies a broader commitment to sustainable living across the board. Regardless of whether you live in an HDB flat of any size or a private landed property, condominium, or apartment, these vouchers provide a tangible incentive to make eco-conscious upgrades to your home.
Here’s how the Climate Vouchers can be utilized by different household types:
- For HDB Flats (2-Room, 3-Room, 4-Room, 5-Room, Executive, and Multi-Generational): These units, ranging from compact to spacious, all stand to benefit significantly from energy and water-efficient appliances. The vouchers can be used to offset the cost of:
- 3-tick and above refrigerators: Essential for reducing electricity consumption in the kitchen, a vital area in any flat size.
- LED lights (2-tick and above): A simple yet effective way to cut down on lighting energy use throughout the home.
- 3-tick shower fittings, basin taps/mixers, and water closets: Crucial for conserving water in bathrooms, helping to reduce utility bills.
- Direct current (DC) fans: An efficient alternative to air-conditioning for everyday cooling, especially useful in rooms or as supplementary cooling.
- 4-tick washing machines: For efficient laundry, minimizing both water and electricity consumption.
- 5-tick air-conditioners: A significant investment for larger HDB units, offering substantial long-term savings on electricity bills.
- For Private Properties (Landed Homes, Condominiums, Apartments): While private properties often have more diverse appliance needs and potentially larger spaces, the Climate Vouchers remain highly valuable for promoting efficiency. Residents can leverage the vouchers for:
- High-efficiency air-conditioners (5-tick): Especially impactful for larger homes or those with more rooms requiring cooling, leading to substantial energy savings.
- Large-capacity refrigerators (3-tick and above): Catering to potentially larger families or more extensive food storage needs while ensuring energy efficiency.
- Energy-efficient washing machines (4-tick): Important for households with higher laundry volumes.
- LED lighting (2-tick and above): To replace conventional lighting across the property, significantly reducing electricity consumption.
- Water-efficient fittings (3-tick shower fittings, basin taps/mixers, and water closets): Crucial for conserving water in properties that may have multiple bathrooms or extensive outdoor water use (though the vouchers are for indoor fittings).
- DC fans: An energy-saving alternative for general circulation, useful in various rooms or outdoor patio areas.
Image credit to NEA
Beyond Vouchers: A Broader Green Push
The Climate Vouchers are part of a larger, comprehensive strategy by the Singapore government to build a more sustainable and climate-resilient nation. While HDB’s Green Towns Programme (GTP) focuses specifically on public housing estates, the broader national initiatives reinforce the push for sustainability across all property types:
- Green Mark Scheme: This BCA initiative encourages green buildings, including private developments, through a comprehensive rating system that assesses environmental performance.
- National Water Agency (PUB) initiatives: Continuous efforts to promote water conservation across all sectors, including households, through education and efficient fitting standards.
- Energy Efficiency Fund (EEF): While often more geared towards businesses, the general push for energy efficiency permeates the entire economy, influencing appliance standards available to consumers.
- Solarisation: Beyond HDB, there’s a national drive to increase solar panel deployment on rooftops of various building types, including private residential properties where feasible.
By combining direct financial assistance like Climate Vouchers with broader infrastructure improvements and regulatory frameworks, Singapore is demonstrating a strong commitment to empowering its citizens to play an active role in climate action. The initiative encourages conscious consumption and provides the necessary support for households of all property types to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle, contributing to Singapore’s vision of a greener and more resilient future.
Sources:
- https://www.greenplan.gov.sg/vision/
- https://supportgowhere.life.gov.sg/schemes/9kUw7c5Q/enhanced-climate-friendly-households-programme-climate-vouchers
- https://www.climate-friendly-households.gov.sg/about-cv/
- https://www.climate-friendly-households.gov.sg/#:~:text=Enhanced%20Climate%20Friendly%20Households%20Programme,anytime%20until%2031%20Dec%202027
- https://www.climate-friendly-households.gov.sg/cv-faqs/
- https://simsiangchoon.com/bathroom-fittings-that-are-both-elegant-and-water-savings/#:~:text=Simply%2C%20the%20more%20ticks%2C%20the,Ticks%3A%20Less%20than%205L%2Fmin
- https://www.vindusfans.com/blogs/the-9-best-fans-of-2025-to-keep-you-cool-finding-the-most-economical-energy-efficient-options/
- https://www.circularconnection.com/post/households-in-singapore-400-in-climate-vouchers-2025
- https://www.nccs.gov.sg/singapores-climate-action/mitigation-efforts/buildings/
- https://www.pub.gov.sg/AboutUs#:~:text=PUB%20actively%20engages%20with%20stakeholders,emphasising%20that%20everyone%20has%20a
