Pollution is becoming an increasingly large problem in Mongolia, especially in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. This is caused by three main factors: the three coal-fired power planets powering the city, heavy traffic, and polluting stoves used in homes in the ger districts surrounding the city. During the winter, when stoves are burning constantly for heat, a cloud of smoke hangs over the city, causing acid rain and increasing rates of respiratory diseases.
At MISED, we are researching ways to abate pollution by improving the efficiency of heating systems and improving insulation in gers and buildings so less heat needs to be produced. The stoves used in homes for cooking and heat burn coal, wood, and trash, all of which are incredibly polluting. 52% of the population uses these for heat. Wealthy Mongolians actually pay less for heating than the poor because apartment central heating is subsidized by the government. Most of the stoves are homemade, with few features to improve their efficiency. This means that they burn much more fuel to produce the same amount of heat as a more efficient stove. The indoor air quality in gers is also 11 times worse than U.S. standards. This indoor air pollution is a major cause of infant mortality in Ulaanbaatar.
Insulation in gers is actually quite poor. We are currently researching ways to improve their insulation using state-of-the-art Scandinavian technologies. Gers have been used for centuries by the people of Mongolia, so we are making sure to preserve the traditions and culture of the country in our quest for innovation and sustainability.
Passive Housing
Inspired by the Passivhaus energy standard for architecture in Germany, we are researching ways in which we can reduce the energy consumption of buildings in Mongolia. Passive housing is an integrated design process to reduce the energy consumption by up to 90%. A passive house can be heated by a single candle or human body heat. Passive houses retain more heat in winter and gain less heat in summer. This is achieved through superinsulation, advanced window insulation, solar efficiency, heat recovery ventilation systems, and other measures. Passive housing and other similar building standards have been implemented mostly in Germany, Scandinavia, and Canada. In Mongolia's frigid environment, passive housing is a logical option to reduce heating costs, energy consumption, and pollution.
