Built Environment
From global research to smart solutions: Elevating urban resilience
It has been a prolific year for NUS DBE. While maintaining our excellence in sustainable urbanism, we have deepened our reach through high-impact partnerships with BCA, NParks, and the Surbana Jurong Group. A standout achievement this year was the launch of Comfort GPT, an AI-driven thermostat designed for the future of living. We are proud of these collective successes and remain committed to shaping a more resilient built environment in the years to come.
Department of the Built Environment
Key Highlights
Joint Study by BCA, NParks, and NUS on Co-Located Solar Panels and Green Roofs
A study by the National Parks Board (NParks), Building and Construction Authority (BCA), and researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS), demonstrated the technical feasibility of co-locating solar panels and green roofs. The study, led by Associate Professor Stephen Tay, together with team members Ms Faizatuzzahrah Rahmaniah and Ms Joyce Lim Hui Min, reported improved solar panel output, enhanced greenery growth, and reduced indoor temperatures through the effective use of limited roof spaces. The study contributes to Singapore’s vision of a “Low-Carbon City” and a “City in Nature”.
Comfort GPT: A Smart Thermostat That Learns Your Temperature Preferences
Meet ComfortGPT: The next generation of smart climate control. Leveraging a library of pre-trained archetypes, this machine-learning model bypasses the limitations of legacy thermostats to predict individual comfort with precision. It evolves automatically by updating setpoints as the environment changes. The result is a seamless balance of superior personal comfort and sustainable building management.
