Louis Chan had just returned from a trip to Italy. He shares with delightful enthusiasm how Italy is tackling climate change. Lombardy and Tuscany are pushing forward with agrivoltaics, blending solar panels with farmland – the Italians have wisely used their 7,000-year-old agricultural industry as a lever to drive widespread adoption and acceptance of green technology.
“Witnessing this approach reflected not just in policy, but in everyday life shifted something in me. I was convinced that we can still have our comforts while significantly reducing our environmental footprint.”
Italy now generates nearly half its electricity from renewables, surpassing the global average. In contrast, Singapore still relies on natural gas for at least 95% of its electricity. The central question remains: how can Singapore achieve a similar transformation?
“Sustainability was a calling.”
Educated and trained in pharmacy, Louis swapped his lab coats for suits when he found himself leaning more comfortably into the world of sustainability while working as an intern at Deloitte. To him, sustainability is a space that embraces innovations of all forms, respects accountability, and, most importantly, is impact-driven.
Today, he is a certified ESG Analyst and co-founder of Greenbix, a deep-tech start-up that has developed a patented passive displacement coil technology aimed at dramatically cutting electricity use by HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems —making them more energy-efficient and sustainable.
Greenbix’s co-founders, Guo Shuai and Kai Xian Cheng, both hold PhDs in mechanical engineering, providing strong technical expertise for product development and continuous improvement of their HVAC solutions.
Our beloved air-conditioning is costing us more
“An HVAC system is what keeps your indoor environment comfortable by controlling the temperature, humidity, and air quality. For someone who enjoys their aircon (like me), think of HVAC as the whole setup that not only cools the air but also circulates the fresh air and removes stale air, making our indoor environment feel pleasant and conducive.”
In Singapore’s tropical climate, HVAC systems are essential because they cool and dehumidify the air, ensuring you stay comfortable indoors despite the hot weather outside.
However, air-conditioning is expensive and damaging to the earth. In Singapore, air conditioning and mechanical ventilation (ACMV) systems account for more than 50% of a building’s total energy consumption, with cooling alone responsible for around 60% of electricity use in non-residential buildings.
Since Singapore’s carbon tax introduction in 2019—currently S$25 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions, rising to S$45 by 2026, and projected to reach S$50–80 per tonne by 2030—delaying energy-efficient upgrades is increasingly costly for businesses.
Taking the air-con apart
Greenbix’s innovative air-cooling system takes a bold, new approach to using less energy – by removing the air handling unit (also known as the fan) and air distribution duct, core components of conventional HVAC systems.
“It became apparent to us that the fan was a major contributor to energy consumption. This inspired us to rethink the entire system. We then engineered a far more efficient passive displacement cooling coil, optimising tube design and structure to outperform existing market options, both in speed and effectiveness.”
The system uses a passive displacement cooling (PDC) approach, leveraging natural air movement. Greenbix’s solution cools indoor spaces 30% faster and is 50% more compact than conventional PDC systems.
“Inside each unit, chilled water pipes cool the air, which, being denser, sinks and spreads across the room. As the air warms, it rises and is recirculated for cooling, creating a convection current that eliminates the need for energy-hungry fans. This results in substantial energy savings and a quieter environment.”
Greening buildings in Singapore – starting with the Heeren
For building owners and operators, Greenbix’s solution translates into significant cost savings on utility bills, more operational space, and reduced exposure to rising carbon taxes.
The start-up’s innovative air-cooling system is already implemented at the Heeren in Singapore, which is certified BCA Green Mark Platinum, the highest rating based on the BCA’s green building rating system. “Based on the findings from our trials at The Heeren, we have calculated a savings of over S$100,000 over a projected 15 years lifespan of HVAC system due to the energy savings. Even though the capital cost of our system is higher, significant cost savings come from the calculated energy saved by using our system.”
Scaling up on impact with NUS GRIP
By lowering HVAC energy consumption, Greenbix also helps building owners meet the Singapore Green Plan 2030 targets, contributing to national sustainability goals and reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. “Achieving international green building certifications such as LEED Platinum also enhances a building’s marketability and supports higher occupancy rates, as tenants increasingly seek out sustainable, cost-efficient spaces.” Louis adds.
Since joining GRIP (NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme) in 2024, Greenbix has secured funding and is now focused on growing its client base and deepening its market presence in Singapore and the Southeast Asian region next.
“GRIP equipped us with the business acumen and strategic frameworks necessary to transform our technology into a commercially viable venture—opening doors to key industry stakeholders and helping us refine our go-to-market strategy. NUS Enterprise also regularly shares relevant start-up events, which helped us stay plugged into the entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
What’s next for Greenbix?
Greenbix is seeking partnerships for product integration, pilot projects, and research collaborations to enhance its offerings. The company has filed patents in Singapore, Japan, and China, and is preparing for a fundraising round to support regional expansion and cement its position as a leader in sustainable HVAC innovation.
Advice from one entrepreneur to another.
“Our biggest “life hack” is maintaining adaptability and a strong bias toward action. Too often, people get stuck in the planning phase—endlessly strategising without execution. I believe it’s far more valuable to act: send that email, reach out to that potential partner, or test that new idea.
If it doesn’t work, you learn quickly and can pivot just as fast. In the start-up world, speed and adaptability are your biggest assets. The faster you can test, learn, and iterate, the better your chances of staying ahead in a rapidly changing market.”
Learn more about Greenbix and the National GRIP initiative launched by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and executed in partnership with NUS and NTU.
