Can’t wait to get your BTO flat?
Getting a BTO (build-to-order) flat together as a couple is an established rite of passage in Singapore. For couples, taking the first step towards getting a home together is an indication of their willingness to commit to one another. And even with many BTO flats being rolled out in various districts, competition is fierce!
Well, now it seems that the rat-race is just getting started. The Housing Development Board has upped the ante by rolling out smart-enabled BTO flats, which come with features such as the ability to monitor electricity usage across multiple appliances, gantry-free carparks, and more. As of 14th December 2020, more than 1,000 proud owners have collected the keys to such BTO flats located in Punggol Northshore Residences I and II.
What do the flats come with?
Smart appliance control
Each flat comes equipped with a smart distribution board, which allows residences to keep tabs on electricity usage. Together with smart power sockets, this not only allows them to save on electricity costs, it will also help the environment immensely in the long run. Appliances can be controlled via a mobile app from anywhere; basically, any appliance that can be connected to a power source can be controlled via this app. Switch on the air-conditioner on the way home, or even get the washing machine and dryer started in the middle of the day – the possibilities are endless!
The flats also come with smart door locks, allowing owners to open the door for others should they not be home during the time of visit. Owners are also able to unlock the front door with their fingerprints.
Gantry-less parking system
Residents will also be able to enjoy a brand spanking new Parking@HDB system, which eliminates the use of gantry barriers. The entry and exit of vehicles are tracked by cameras, which register each vehicle’s number plate. Drivers will then be able to settle their parking charges with just the touch of a button, via the Parking@HDB app, with their credit or debit card. The best part? Users can save their card in the app, and have the charges automatically deducted when they leave the carpark.
The Parking@HDB system has five features, four of which have been put on trial at a carpark that has 1,000 lots. This will gradually be expanded to more carparks as time goes by! Sensors are also used to monitor parking demand, automatically freeing up parking spaces for visitors when residents are not using their season parking lots.
What else is available?
Much thought has been put into how the BTO buildings are built and positioned.
For example, real-time data and computer simulations of shadows cast by the buildings over the course of the day allowed planners to best determine where to place common amenities, such as fitness corners and playgrounds.
Ceiling fans in common areas will be automatically activated when there’s a large gathering of people. The speed of the fans is also controlled based on the amount of human traffic! The lighting along common corridors is also controlled via sensors, and will be dimmed when there is less movement.
With previous smart home projects being rolled out in Yuhua and Visionaire at Sembawang, and now Punggol Northshore Residences, the next will be implemented in Tengah in approximately six years time. Sit tight, you might just be the owner of one of these amazing homes!
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