Life Without Aircon in a Sweltering HDB: How a food influencer beats the heat and haze
Luxury digital editor and food influencer Kenneth Goh on growing up without air-conditioning, navigating muggy haze seasons in a family HDB, and why his future home will finally feature a cool breeze.
By Guanlin Tan -
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In a tropical island nation where indoor air-conditioning is often treated as a birthright rather than a luxury, Kenneth Goh belongs to a rare breed of Singaporeans. The mid-30s Digital and Dining Editor at The Peak - who is also widely recognized as food content creator @kenneats - has spent his entire life thriving without air-con in his family home.
When his family moved into their current HDB flat 15 years ago, they saw no reason to disrupt the status quo. His bedroom features near floor-to-ceiling windows that usually draw in a comfortable breeze, leaving a trusty standing electric fan as his sole cooling companion for years.
However, as rising temperatures and recurring haze episodes push Singapore’s tropical climate to new extremes, Kenneth’s heat tolerance is being tested like never before.
Surviving Haze Season
Reflecting on past environmental challenges, Kenneth notes a distinct shift in weather patterns. During the massive 2013 haze episode, he relied on a simple formula: close the windows, turn on the fan, and wait for the skies to clear.
With today’s lingering dry heat compounded by airborne pollutants, keeping windows fully shut turns a bedroom into a muggy box. To balance air quality against trapped heat, Kenneth leaves a small window gap while keeping his bedroom door open to maintain ventilation.
His daily survival kit has adapted accordingly:
- Maxing Out Fan Speeds: Hitting level 2 on his fan controls far more frequently.
- Lifestyle Tweaks: Wearing lightweight, breathable cotton t-shirts indoors and taking cold showers throughout the day.
- Air Purification: Shifting away from his old wait-and-see strategy to invest in a Goodsleep 2-in-1 dehumidifier and air purifier.
- Upgrading Equipment: Planning to leverage government Climate Vouchers to purchase a bladeless tower fan for stronger, more efficient airflow.
Goodsleep Forest 2-in-1 Dehumidifier Air Purifier ($159.90)
Despite the discomfort, Kenneth remains pragmatic about his current setup, preferring targeted solutions like air purifiers and upgraded fans over installing a costly air-conditioning system for a temporary haze season expected to clear by early November.
A Cooler Home for the Future
While living without air-con has taught Kenneth resilience, climate change is shifting his perspective on long-term home design. Currently planning to purchase his own place, the food editor intends to build a space tailored specifically to his evolving needs.
Unlike his parents’ home, his future residence will feature a modern air-conditioning setup to safeguard against increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
“With global warming causing climate change, I have to be prepared for erratic weather conditions,” says Kenneth. “Having air-conditioning at home will provide more options to cope with the haze and heat in the long term.”