ENERGY EFFICIENCY TRENDS IN RURAL BUILDINGS

Over the last two years, the Energy Efficiency Project has worked with government bodies and
Communities across our target 41 soums in western aimags, supporting soums and aimags to reduce
their energy costs and improve their working and learning environment.
Through the projects matching funds scheme so far seven public buildings such as kindergartens,
schools, health centers and childrens dormitory have been retrofitted in six soums of both aimags. In
the two target regions, EEP is continuously working on building capacity and improving the technical
competencies on participatory planning, budgeting and implementing skills for the thermo-technical
rehabilitation of buildings in the community.
One of the finalized measures is the school for 160 children in Zavkhanmandal soum of Zavkhan aimag.
This wooden facility was built in 1973 and it was completely run down

Before

After
The indoor temperatures dropped to little more than 0 degrees indoors, while outdoor temperatures
easily drop below -35 degrees in Zavkhan.
Children describe how their hands got stiff when writing in class and how all plants they grew as part of
the green school initiative didnt survive the cold. Citizens, especially herders worried about their
children in the cold classrooms, prioritized the retrofitting of the school already years ago. When EEP

was offering matching funds the soum and aimag government contributed the required 40% of the
total investment based on the citizens requests for the local development fund investments.
After the thermo-technical retrofitting the indoor temperature is stable at 20C, while having a frosty
winter when temperatures dropped to less than -40C.
Additionally, an energy audit and measurements showed that this school building demonstrates the
financial, environmental, and healthy learning benefits of energy efficiency as it consumes on average
50 percent less energy than typical similar buildings.
After finalizing the new boiler house and installing an efficient electric pump, the school in
Zavkhanmandal was able to connect the newly built shower and toilet facilities to the heat supply. The
learning environment and the hygienic conditions for the children increased significantly through project
intervention. All children are very grateful and enjoy coming in the classrooms from outside because it is
pleasant, warm and comfortable now. They like to come to school!
The Deputy Governor of Zavkhan aimag, Mr. Puntsag highlighted that the GIZ-implemented Energy
Efficiency Project does not only exemplify sustainable investment but also good governance. It supports
citizen initiatives and is dedicated to use local development funds and thus local budgets efficiently.
Various strengthening trainings accompanying the measures targeted the local administrations, local
construction companies, local community and soum citizens representatives.
Meanwhile, EEP introduced the Life Cycle Cost approach to Citizens Representatives Khural members,
to improve and enhance the sustainability of local investments.
This example from Zavkhanmandal soum school shows the huge benefits that can be created by a smart
allocation and planning of the LDF and community participation and prioritization.
The link to a short movie on the project interventions on YouTube channel: Please find the link to the
YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/IF2MywA6K6Y