Project type: Saving energy
Project size: Three schools
Project volume: $1.52 million
CO2 reduction: 572.57 tons of CO2 a year

The Mongolian city of Ulan Bator is believed to be the coldest capital in the world, with temperatures in winter regularly plummeting to an icy minus 40 degrees Celsius. But the city’s buildings were not constructed to withstand the extreme temperatures. Old pre-fabricated structures are plagued by leaky windows and poor insulation, wasting vast amounts of energy for heating in the winter. Energy efficiency has so far been of little importance in new buildings as well. But a new model project aims to renovate three elementary schools from the ground up to create new heating systems and give freezing students a comfortable place to learn. Local construction companies are being trained in better insulation techniques with the hope of popularizing energy-efficient buildings across the country.

A film by Kerstin Schweizer