Of the 412.5 thousand households in Ulaanbaatar city, 51.4 percent (212 thousand) reside in apartments, while 48.6 percent (200 thousand) live in the ger district, where engineering infrastructure is insufficient (Source: National Statistics Office). Roughly half of the city's population resides in the ger district, a region contributing to 80 percent of Ulaanbaatar's air pollution, primarily due to 163,742 chimneys.
Families in the ger district don't intentionally pollute the air rather, they burn fires for warmth, combating the harsh winter conditions to survive. Ideally, they would prefer living in apartments with adequate water supply and functioning heaters. However, this isn't a solution due to numerous issues related to heating and water pipelines."
However, the quest for a solution to stay warm without emitting excessive smoke continues. There are also international projects and programs actively working towards insulating homes in ger districts, offering valuable tips and advice.
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Oyunsuren B. is a 39-year-old mother who lives with her six children in the 8th sub-district of the Khan-Uul district. They bought a house two years ago and moved from a rented one. However, the house they purchased is old and allows wind to permeate through walls, ceilings, doors, and windows, which leads to significant heat loss. Winters were especially harsh due to the uninsulated roof and suspended ceiling. During snowstorms, the wind howls through the gaps, creating an indoor environment almost as cold as the outdoors.
During the harsh winter season, Oyunsuren and her family had to rely on an immense amount of improved coal to keep their home warm. Every day, they burnt two sacks of coal briquettes to ensure that they lived in accordance with the minimum threshold of thermal comfort. Indoor temperature dropped swiftly if they failed to start the fire at 4 a.m., they were able to see their breath steam out of their mouths. Unfortunately, the rough weather conditions had caused some structural damage to their home. The plaster wall had fallen off due to the extreme cold, and the old window let in cold air.
Amid their struggles, Oyunsuren's situation took a turn when a few strangers visited her. They were from a Facebook group called 'Hashaandaa saikhan amidarya' and expressed their desire to inspect her home. This visit marked the start of a potential solution to their problems.
The "Hashaandaa Saikhan Amidaraya" group has launched a campaign called "Warm Winter". This campaign aims to insulate homes in the ger districts and raise public awareness about the importance of insulation. One of the beneficiaries of this campaign was Oyunsuren's house. The initiative was supported by the "SOAP II" project, funded by the European Union's SWITCH-Asia program.
The SOAP II project is set to continue until 2026 with the objective of reducing air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city. The project aims to achieve this goal by reducing coal consumption through improving energy efficiency and decreasing heat loss in individual houses located in the ger areas of Ulaanbaatar city.
Moreover, the SOAP II project targets to improve the capacities and skills of around 160 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises of the construction sector in reducing heat loss. At present, the project has developed technological solutions and products to insulate roof, wall, floor, foundation and replace window.
As a result of the insulation, for example, One household was able to achieve a 50% reduction in energy usage by insulating their house, resulting in a corresponding decrease in fuel consumption and a positive impact on their overall household economy. Additionally, this insulation improved indoor and outdoor air quality, along with an estimated reduction of 9.5 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
The project is organizing a training program to empower micro and small enterprises of the construction sector. The main objective of this program is to train them to become an "energy advisor" who has the necessary knowledge to provide effective insulation services and earn additional income by sharing their expertise. Also, this empowerment will enable households to receive quality insulation services and contribute to the community's energy efficiency.
In 2023, the “SOAP II" project provided ten different types of tailor-made training for 239 micro and small business owners. Additionally, the project collaborated with 37 energy advisors and provided insulation work for 179 households. The project also carried out the technical assessment for 633 households.
Households in the Ger district now have homes that minimize heat loss, providing greater comfort and economic savings. In addition, there is a skilled workforce available that can identify areas of heat loss in walls, ceilings, doors and windows, and implement effective insulation solutions.
The project is a collaborative effort involving Geres Mongolia, the Building Energy Efficiency Center of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology, the Mongolian National Construction Association NGO, the Mongolian Women’s Fund, and the Mongolian Green Finance Corporation.
For example "SOAP II" project Brigade, led by energy advisors Sumyabat Ch. and Purev Ts., successfully insulated Oyunsuren’s house from December 16 to 23, 2023. Oyunsuren works in a small carpet cleaning company with only seven employees. Her workload significantly increases during holidays such as the Lunar New Year and Naadam, with the company receiving reservations even during nighttime.
Managing heavy machinery for carpet washing, she occasionally brings her sons to work. However, this presents a challenge as her children are left at home while she's at work, prompting concerns about the fireplace and the associated risks. To address these worries, she installed a camera at home to monitor their safety.
Fortunately, through the international projects and campaign mentioned earlier, Oyunsuren's living conditions have improved. The house was insulated with quality materials using the appropriate technology, resulting in a 50 percent reduction in heat loss. This positive change allowed for the removal of the chimney, and the heating system was transitioned to 100 percent electricity.
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"Our house is now insulated with mineral wool material for wall insulation, with ventilation, and a protective metal facade on the outside. The roof has been insulated with 15 cm thick mineral wool. Living space is comfortable and uniformly heated, without the need for a fireplace.
I've even stopped worrying about fire and coal-related issues. This insulation solution has proven to be not only convenient but also beneficial. I used to wake up at 4 a.m. every day to start a fire. After insulating our home, I initially continued the routine, but then I remembered that we no longer needed to, so I happily went back to sleep.
Using improved coal often leads to a significant amount of ash and soot, making it challenging to keep the house clean. The child's socks get dirty, and an unpleasant smell lingers on clothes. However, since we stopped using improved coal, the house has become clean. Maintaining a clean and tidy home positively influences our mood, making us feel comfortable and optimistic," shared Oyunsuren B. Life, indeed, rewards hardworking individuals.
If the windows of the house are constantly sweaty and cold in winter, it indicates a problem with heat loss and ventilation. This occurrence suggests that the indoor air contains high levels of steam and moisture. Experts recommend that even if you are not cooking or boiling tea, persistent steam and humidity are signs of significant heat loss in the house.
Insulating houses in ger districts can significantly reduce the amount of coal burned and minimize the smoke emanating from chimneys. Therefore, we strongly advise people to improve their living conditions economically and comfortably by insulating their homes. This not only benefits individual households but also contributes to the broader goal of reducing air pollution in Ulaanbaatar.
For more information about the "SOAP II" project, which aims to introduce efficient and energy-saving insulation solutions suitable for Mongolian conditions, and is funded by the Switch Asia program under the European Union, click HERE.
Of the 412.5 thousand households in Ulaanbaatar city, 51.4 percent (212 thousand) reside in apartments, while 48.6 percent (200 thousand) live in the ger district, where engineering infrastructure is insufficient (Source: National Statistics Office). Roughly half of the city's population resides in the ger district, a region contributing to 80 percent of Ulaanbaatar's air pollution, primarily due to 163,742 chimneys.
Families in the ger district don't intentionally pollute the air rather, they burn fires for warmth, combating the harsh winter conditions to survive. Ideally, they would prefer living in apartments with adequate water supply and functioning heaters. However, this isn't a solution due to numerous issues related to heating and water pipelines."
However, the quest for a solution to stay warm without emitting excessive smoke continues. There are also international projects and programs actively working towards insulating homes in ger districts, offering valuable tips and advice.
Oyunsuren B. is a 39-year-old mother who lives with her six children in the 8th sub-district of the Khan-Uul district. They bought a house two years ago and moved from a rented one. However, the house they purchased is old and allows wind to permeate through walls, ceilings, doors, and windows, which leads to significant heat loss. Winters were especially harsh due to the uninsulated roof and suspended ceiling. During snowstorms, the wind howls through the gaps, creating an indoor environment almost as cold as the outdoors.
During the harsh winter season, Oyunsuren and her family had to rely on an immense amount of improved coal to keep their home warm. Every day, they burnt two sacks of coal briquettes to ensure that they lived in accordance with the minimum threshold of thermal comfort. Indoor temperature dropped swiftly if they failed to start the fire at 4 a.m., they were able to see their breath steam out of their mouths. Unfortunately, the rough weather conditions had caused some structural damage to their home. The plaster wall had fallen off due to the extreme cold, and the old window let in cold air.
Amid their struggles, Oyunsuren's situation took a turn when a few strangers visited her. They were from a Facebook group called 'Hashaandaa saikhan amidarya' and expressed their desire to inspect her home. This visit marked the start of a potential solution to their problems.
The "Hashaandaa Saikhan Amidaraya" group has launched a campaign called "Warm Winter". This campaign aims to insulate homes in the ger districts and raise public awareness about the importance of insulation. One of the beneficiaries of this campaign was Oyunsuren's house. The initiative was supported by the "SOAP II" project, funded by the European Union's SWITCH-Asia program.
The SOAP II project is set to continue until 2026 with the objective of reducing air pollution in Ulaanbaatar city. The project aims to achieve this goal by reducing coal consumption through improving energy efficiency and decreasing heat loss in individual houses located in the ger areas of Ulaanbaatar city.
Moreover, the SOAP II project targets to improve the capacities and skills of around 160 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises of the construction sector in reducing heat loss. At present, the project has developed technological solutions and products to insulate roof, wall, floor, foundation and replace window.
As a result of the insulation, for example, One household was able to achieve a 50% reduction in energy usage by insulating their house, resulting in a corresponding decrease in fuel consumption and a positive impact on their overall household economy. Additionally, this insulation improved indoor and outdoor air quality, along with an estimated reduction of 9.5 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
The project is organizing a training program to empower micro and small enterprises of the construction sector. The main objective of this program is to train them to become an "energy advisor" who has the necessary knowledge to provide effective insulation services and earn additional income by sharing their expertise. Also, this empowerment will enable households to receive quality insulation services and contribute to the community's energy efficiency.
In 2023, the “SOAP II" project provided ten different types of tailor-made training for 239 micro and small business owners. Additionally, the project collaborated with 37 energy advisors and provided insulation work for 179 households. The project also carried out the technical assessment for 633 households.
Households in the Ger district now have homes that minimize heat loss, providing greater comfort and economic savings. In addition, there is a skilled workforce available that can identify areas of heat loss in walls, ceilings, doors and windows, and implement effective insulation solutions.
The project is a collaborative effort involving Geres Mongolia, the Building Energy Efficiency Center of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology, the Mongolian National Construction Association NGO, the Mongolian Women’s Fund, and the Mongolian Green Finance Corporation.
For example "SOAP II" project Brigade, led by energy advisors Sumyabat Ch. and Purev Ts., successfully insulated Oyunsuren’s house from December 16 to 23, 2023. Oyunsuren works in a small carpet cleaning company with only seven employees. Her workload significantly increases during holidays such as the Lunar New Year and Naadam, with the company receiving reservations even during nighttime.
Managing heavy machinery for carpet washing, she occasionally brings her sons to work. However, this presents a challenge as her children are left at home while she's at work, prompting concerns about the fireplace and the associated risks. To address these worries, she installed a camera at home to monitor their safety.
Fortunately, through the international projects and campaign mentioned earlier, Oyunsuren's living conditions have improved. The house was insulated with quality materials using the appropriate technology, resulting in a 50 percent reduction in heat loss. This positive change allowed for the removal of the chimney, and the heating system was transitioned to 100 percent electricity.
"Our house is now insulated with mineral wool material for wall insulation, with ventilation, and a protective metal facade on the outside. The roof has been insulated with 15 cm thick mineral wool. Living space is comfortable and uniformly heated, without the need for a fireplace.
I've even stopped worrying about fire and coal-related issues. This insulation solution has proven to be not only convenient but also beneficial. I used to wake up at 4 a.m. every day to start a fire. After insulating our home, I initially continued the routine, but then I remembered that we no longer needed to, so I happily went back to sleep.
Using improved coal often leads to a significant amount of ash and soot, making it challenging to keep the house clean. The child's socks get dirty, and an unpleasant smell lingers on clothes. However, since we stopped using improved coal, the house has become clean. Maintaining a clean and tidy home positively influences our mood, making us feel comfortable and optimistic," shared Oyunsuren B. Life, indeed, rewards hardworking individuals.
If the windows of the house are constantly sweaty and cold in winter, it indicates a problem with heat loss and ventilation. This occurrence suggests that the indoor air contains high levels of steam and moisture. Experts recommend that even if you are not cooking or boiling tea, persistent steam and humidity are signs of significant heat loss in the house.
Insulating houses in ger districts can significantly reduce the amount of coal burned and minimize the smoke emanating from chimneys. Therefore, we strongly advise people to improve their living conditions economically and comfortably by insulating their homes. This not only benefits individual households but also contributes to the broader goal of reducing air pollution in Ulaanbaatar.
For more information about the "SOAP II" project, which aims to introduce efficient and energy-saving insulation solutions suitable for Mongolian conditions, and is funded by the Switch Asia program under the European Union, click HERE.