Expressway noise also drives up air-con use

Another factor that leads to an increased use of air-conditioning is noise pollution from expressways ("Focus on building design to cut air-con use" by Ms Lim Siat Foong; Monday).

Many HDB flats and condominiums are built right next to open expressways, subjecting residents to high levels of noise disturbance all day, every day.

This, in turn, forces residents to close all the windows and turn on the air-conditioning to shut out the noise.

HDB and private developers should not build residential housing right next to open expressways, unless noise barriers are also built or other adequate noise mitigation measures are implemented.

In addition, the National Environment Agency should set stricter road noise limits for residential housing next to expressways to create a more conducive living environment.

Kim-Gau Ng

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 30, 2015, with the headline Expressway noise also drives up air-con use. Subscribe