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As announced in Budget 2024, all HDB households will receive $300 worth of Climate Vouchers that can be used to purchase energy and water-efficient home appliances. These vouchers are surely useful for those who have just gotten their keys to a new house or are planning to move to a new place and may need to purchase expensive appliances such as refrigerators, air-conditioners, washing machines, sinks and water closets. These vouchers are meant to incentivise the purchase of an energy or water-efficient device certified with the relevant . Most households will likely already have all the expensive appliances, which will be expensive and wasteful to replace, not to mention that its cost is only partially subsidised by the vouchers. Nevertheless, most households can still tap on these vouchers to subsidise their replacement of an ageing refrigerator or washing machine or use them to purchase consumables such as LED lights for their house, or to upgrade shower or tap fittings to help save water. Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents whose addresses are registered at a HDB flat are eligible to claim Climate vouchers. This includes those who are renting or are moving into a new BTO/resale flat before the expiry of the vouchers (31 December 2027). Those who have just moved into a new house and are unable to claim or utilise their vouchers can . The process to claiming and spending the Climate Vouchers is very similar to how you claim your CDC vouchers. You may refer to this . In summary, you will need to by logging into Singpass. Only one person per household may claim the vouchers. Thereafter the e-voucher link will be sent to you via SMS. The way the Climate Vouchers are spent is very similar to CDC vouchers. They will come in denominations of $2, $5, $10 and $50, totalling to $300. This link may be forwarded to other household members, or other persons to make purchases on your behalf. Participating merchants will require the purchaser to display proof of address using a document showing the same address as those stated on the voucher before they allow the use of Climate Vouchers. Do note that vouchers from two different addresses cannot be combined in a single transaction, and all appliances purchased using Climate Vouchers are strictly non-refundable. You can use this handy to find a store near you to spend your vouchers. To find out what appliances are being sold at which branches, you may refer to this . Unfortunately, online transactions are not supported, so you will need to make a trip down to a physical store even if the participating merchant has an online store. Most households will need to replace their lights every few years depending on how long the bulbs last. While it would be more wasteful to immediately swap out current light bulbs for LED ones, most households would definitely find it useful to stock up on the necessary light bulbs, especially if there is nothing else they wish to use the climate vouchers on. Most light bulbs or fluorescent tubes have interchangeable connectors these days, and have an LED equivalent, so new LED bulbs can fit onto the old light fittings. The three things you need to ensure are the same is the connector (E27 and B22 seem to be the most common in Singapore), the wattage of the bulb, as well as the colour temperature (E.g. 3000K/4500K/6000K). If in doubt, bring the old bulb or tube along and the store assistant will likely be able to identify the product that suits your needs. Old and spoilt light bulbs can be disposed of at located islandwide. DC fans are typically more expensive than AC fans, however they are generally more power efficient. There are DC fans which are ceiling fans, desk fans, as well as standing fans. Fans may be a very good purchase especially during this hot season to replace or even supplement air conditioner usage Households not looking to install a new ceiling fan can consider a tower fan such as this , which costs $119.90. Alternatively, those looking for a more traditional fan form factor can consider this fan costing $209.90 which can convert between a standing fan and a desktop fan height. These mixers refer to the fixture on your shower, basin or kitchen sink where there is an attached lever or button to turn on/off the water. PUB assesses these products for durability and build quality and gives these fixtures a rating (1-3 ticks) called Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme ( ). These products are then sold with the MWELS logo on the packaging. A non-MWELS rated product can still be used but may degrade with use and run the risk of water contamination, or leakage resulting in water wastage. While it is possible to fix leaks in taps and pipe fittings using PTFE tape, this is a good chance to upgrade to a MWELS-rated product to eliminate the water leakage. PUB lists along with its tick-rating and its stats on its website. Changing these mixers may require the services of a plumber, however the more DIY-savvy should be able to do it without needing specialised help. Shower Heads are rated under the Voluntary Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme ( ). In general, water efficient shower heads have smaller holes in its outlets such that it blasts the water at a higher speed while showering. This has two effects – it is more effective at removing dirt for the person showering. A one-tick showerhead could consume as much as 8 litres a minute, whereas a three-tick showerhead could consume as little as 4.9 litres a minute, and this could almost halve water usage during showers. PUB has a page listing along with its specifications. Shower heads are typically a simple replacement and can be done without specialised help. Energy of a one-tick (or unrated) appliance is likely to be much higher than that of a five-tick appliance. Since household appliances are generally made to last for years, the total energy consumption is likely to be much higher as a result, especially for appliances such as fridges, water heaters, and air conditioners, and the energy cost savings from a five-tick appliance is likely to make a significant impact. Since it is likely for the household to use the appliance for 7-10 years, careful planning is all the more crucial since any regrets will be costly and troublesome to rectify. Those in the midst of planning to upgrade their home appliances can make use of NEA’s , which is a resource page to help estimate energy cost and total cost of the device, including energy consumption over its lifespan to help users make better purchases. heymax.ai fast tracks your travel goals for free by rewarding you additional miles on top of your credit card rewards when shopping online. Get an upsized 800 miles bonus (usually 500) when you sign up through our exclusive . Promo ends 30 April 2024.