Faced with an extremely cold climate, rural Mongolians are forced to rely on inefficient Soviet-era heating, particularly in schools, kindergartens, hospitals and other public buildings. Kindergarten-5 in Khovd aimag, which was re-opened on 26 September, is more than 40-years-old and leaked heating through its roof, windows and floors. “We were in a dire situation,” said kindergarten principal Mrs Sh. Munkhtsetseg.
Retrofitting public buildings using energy-efficient technologies brings a new level of comfort and has a multitude of benefits for rural populations.
“Thanks to great support from the Swiss Government, the know-how and applied technologies from the German government and, last but not least, with the commitment and participation of our aimag citizens, this old and rundown kindergarten building now stands as if new, making it possible for our children to enjoy a healthier learning environment,” said Zavkhan aimag Governor J.Jamyiantiv at the inauguration ceremony today. “Retrofitting the building will reduce heat losses during winter, improve indoor temperatures and ultimately will help save energy - the most precious resource for our living.”
In addition to the introduction of the new energy-efficiency concept, GIZ’s Public Investment into Energy Efficiency Project (EEP) provides opportunities for local governments and communities to utilise the newly established Local Development Funds (LDF) - a pool of public investment funds for supporting local initiatives with the participation of local citizens in decision-making.
The project invites local communities to propose which buildings urgently need retrofitting and enables the communities to participate in the planning, budgeting and monitoring of the kindergarten’s retrofitting, said EEP Director Bjoern Wahlstedt.
“It is not only the technological aspect of energy efficiency that is important, but also the related good governance aspect. This project, investing public funds in energy efficiency - funds which were committed through community participation and decision-making - contributes to improving the living conditions of rural populations as well as to the government decentralisation agenda,” said SDC’s Deputy Director of Cooperation Diepak Elmer at the inauguration.
The EEP fully funded the renovation of the two kindergartens in the western aimags for the purpose of making it a demonstration model. In October - November this year, the project will invite local governments and communities in the Khovd and Zavkhan aimags to propose other buildings for similar renovation; however, this time the project will require a 50-50 percent financing arrangement. This financing can be done by a combination of LDF and other government funds.
The EEP is being implemented in Khovd and Zavkhan aimags, targeting to retrofit a total of eight public buildings that are proposed by the local communities until 2016. SDC and GIZ are jointly financing the project with a total of CHF 10,000,000.
