Ulaanbaatar, July 29, 2025 /MONTSAME/. As the Government declared that Ulaanbaatar city's air pollution had reached a disaster threshold in 2017, the “Switch Off Air Pollution in Mongolian Cities” project funded by the European Union's Switch-Asia II Program was commenced, aiming to combat air pollution by decreasing the heat loss of detached houses in ger districts and increasing energy efficiency. The SOAP project is being implemented in two phases, running from 2018 to 2026. Its objective is to promote less polluting and more resource-efficient housing practices in Mongolia, specifically aimed at improving air quality and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas.

In short, the project aims to decrease air pollution by insulating detached houses.

The “Switch Off Air Pollution in Mongolian Cities” project has brought meaningful improvements to households across Mongolia. From 2018 to 2022, the project insulated 1,546 households, preventing the use of 2,411 tons of fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 3,556 tons. During this period, the SOAP project developed insulation solutions suitable for Mongolian conditions, trained craftsmen in the construction sector, and collaborated with commercial banks and non-bank financial institutions to provide people with concessional loans. Also successfully organized the "Simple solution campaign based on public engagement, which was the first major step.

In the second phase, which began in 2022, the project expanded its activities from Ulaanbaatar city to Darkhan-Uul aimag, one of the major cities in Mongolia. “SOAP II” project not only in its support for environmental sustainability and efforts to combat climate change, but also in its tangible benefits for citizens—these include improving the quality of life, reducing heat loss, and saving on energy costs. Additionally, the continuous training of small and medium-sized businesses in the construction sector, along with their active involvement in the project's implementation, is a crucial step toward increasing local employment, developing skilled workers, and fostering sustainable economic growth.

THE SOAP II project signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Darkhan-Uul Aimag Governor's Office and Darkhan Re-planning Authority in July last year, and has been carrying out the following activities for about a year:

Launch Event of the SOAP II Project in Darkhan-Uul Aimag

The launch event for the SOAP II project was officially held in October 2024 in Darkhan-Uul province. More than 40 attendees participated, including representatives from the Darkhan-Uul Province Governor's Office, the Citizens' Representative Khural, the Building Association of Darkhan-Uul Province, the Environmental Department, project implementation organizations, stakeholders, and representatives from similar projects, programs, and international organizations.

During the meeting, the participants engaged in productive discussions about the implementation of the SOAP II project in Darkhan-Uul Province and the selection of committee members for the region.

The baseline survey was successfully conducted in Darkhan-Uul province

The study involved 300 households in the Darkhan-Uul aimag, with findings based on document analysis and 36 qualitative interviews. Although 39% of the surveyed households had insulated their homes, their consumption of coal and electricity during the heating season did not decrease compared to those without insulation. This indicates that the insulation is not being implemented to standard. Most households rely on traditional stoves and coal for heating, which contributes to air pollution. A technical analysis of private homes revealed significant heat loss due to poor insulation and inadequate construction materials and methods.

Training of Energy advisors and  Insulation Brigade was conducted in Darkhan-Uul aimag

Open enrollment has been announced for training Energy advisors and  Insulation Brigades, specifically aimed at micro and small business owners in Darkhan-Uul province. The training program successfully prepared 26 insulation brigades. As a result, a skilled workforce has been established in Darkhan-Uul province, capable of insulating detached houses and conducting technical assessments. This initiative lays a solid foundation for the insulation market in the region.

350 households in Darkhan have been insulated with a "Simple solution"

The Simple Solution campaign aimed to encourage households to insulate their homes using affordable and readily available materials. Additionally, it sought to raise awareness about the importance of insulation among citizens. The campaign took place in Darkhan-Uul aimag from October to December 2024. During this period, a total of 350 households insulated their homes using simple insulation methods. Furthermore, participants not only insulated their own homes but also engaged by informing five neighbors, and as a reward, they received 5 cm of roof insulation.

On May 27th, a delegation from the European Union to Mongolia, led by Ms. Ina Marčiulionytė, the Ambassador of the European Union to Mongolia, visited Darkhan province. Their aim was to see the implemented initiatives and visit a household that had received an incentive for a 5 cm roof insulation as part of the “Simple Solutions” campaign.

During the visit, the homeowner shared that the roof insulation process was straightforward. After having their roof insulated, they noticed that frost on the windows and ceiling had ceased, which helped retain warmth in the house for a longer period. This improvement significantly reduced the cold exposure for younger children in the household. The local branch of the Red Cross, a partnering community-based organization (CBO), also confirmed that the project’s campaign effectively reached the target households and was carried out in a timely manner.