The Air-Con Team An initiative to conserve the environment by reducing the usage of air-conditioners

Aim of Project  Educate the public on environmental impacts of air-conditioners.  Enable public to strike a balance between personal comfort and use of air-conditioners.

Significance of project Usage of air-conditioning systems results in environmental problems such as:  Ozone depletion  Emission of greenhouse gases (CFCs, HCFCs) that contribute to global warming.

We conducted surveys at Bishan Community Centre and Marine Parade Community Centre Aim: Gauge public’s knowledge on air conditioners and the impacts of its usage. Help us decide the scope and content of subsequent community outreach programmes. Preliminary Phase

Underlying Problem Based on our surveys, we find that there is: 1.Lack of support towards our cause due to general public’s prioritising personal comfort over environmental friendliness 2. Lack of awareness about the resultant environmental and financial costs

Underlying Problem

 Therefore, we need to: Educate the public about the environmental impacts of air-conditioners. Convince them of the importance of using air conditioners in a more environmentally friendly way Educate them on energy saving measures Underlying Problem

Plan of Action 3-Phase approach:  Phase 1(Public Campaigning in RGS)  Phase 2 (Community Outreach)  Phase 3 (Reaching out to the school communities)

Plan of Action Phase 1: Campaigning in RGS  Reaching out to Class Chairpersons to be agents of change in their respective classes  Publicity around school  Implementing guidelines on air-conditioner usage  Reached out to parents during Secondary One Orientation Tea

Plan of Action Phase 2: Outreach to Communities Seletar Country Club  Initial temperature in the club: 20  C  Interview with estate manager about the air- conditioning situation in the club  Implementation of new air-conditioning system (increasing temperature gradually each month to  C)  Conducted surveys to assess comfort level of patrons.

Plan of Action Phase 2: Outreach to Community Community Centres  Have discussed the possibility of conducting outreach at Community Centres with NEA and are in the process of designing publicity materials.

Plan of Action Phase 3: Act on it! Workshop - Reaching out to schools in Singapore Target: Schools with air-conditioned classrooms  Number of participants: 30  Surveys to be conducted in respective schools prior to the workshop (establish level of prior knowledge).  Speakers to speak on the importance of environmental conservation.

Plan of Action  Follow-up action: Participants given Air-Con Kits containing publicity material.  Purpose: Creating change agents & socially responsible citizens. [H1N1 – Secondary 2 team to take up organisation of workshop]

Project Status  Phase One: Complete  Phase Two: Country club outreach completed, outreach at community centres in progress (to be taken up by the Secondary 2 team)  Phase Three: To be taken up by the Secondary 2 team.

Sustainability  Secondary 2 CmPS team to: Continue with the ACT On It! Workshop Continue community outreach and liaison with NEA  ACT On It! Workshop: Bring together like-minded individuals from other schools Create agents of change Enable the spread of this initiative to other schools

Thank you!